FIELD: energy.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to thermionic conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy and can be used in design and testing of thermionic converter (TEC), primarily for space nuclear power plants (NPP). Method for determining internal parameters and output characteristics of a cylindrical TEC with a single-crystal multi-face emitter includes measuring current-voltage characteristics of experimental TEC with isothermal and equipotential electrodes and mathematical modelling based on current-voltage curve of thermal and electrical conductivity in TEC. Invention comprises determining preferred orientation of crystallographic faces and surface area occupied by each of said faces on circumference of emitter. Method includes measuring current-voltage curve of at least two experimental flat TEC with monocrystalline multi-face emitters, while directing crystallographic faces on surface of each of which corresponds to one of identified preferred orientation of faces of multi-face emitter. Dependence of current density in inter-electrode gap of cylindrical TEC on azimuthal direction is obtained from an established ratio. Obtained dependence of current density on azimuthal direction is used during mathematical modelling of processes in TEC.
EFFECT: technical result is possibility of obtaining azimuthal distribution of temperature and electric potentials of electrodes, high accuracy of determining output characteristics of cylindrical TEC with monocrystalline emitter.
2 cl, 2 dwg
