FIELD: nuclear power engineering; spacecraft nuclear power units. SUBSTANCE: thermal power of power-generating element is measured in ground reactor or in that incorporated in converter reactor and emitter temperature is evaluated at instant of abrupt drop in gas activity; then maximal residual life is calculated using formula that includes following quantities: relative gas density in fuel- emitter unit of power-generating element; ratio of emitter-shell thickness to its diameter; thermal power transferred from fuel to emitter shell of power- generating element; temperature of power-generating element emitter; emitter diameter; yield index of emitter shell material. EFFECT: enhanced precision of determining maximal residual life according to short circuit of electrodes. 6 dwg
