The modern information-measuring complex for investigations and tests of thermionic heat to electricity converters

6/22/2018 2018 - #02 Physics and methods for direct conversion of nuclear energy

Kirillov A.S. Yarygin V.I.

https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2018.2.13

A thermionic nuclear power plant (TNPP) is one of promising power sources for spacecrafts for various purposes. There are investigations and tests to determine characteristics of TNPP. The first test is the out-of-reactor test of laboratory thermionic converters (TIC) with flat and cylindrical geometry of electrodes on stands equipped by an automated information-measuring complex (IMC). The IMC carries out the following functions: measuring of TIC current-voltage characteristics (CVC) together with temperature fields in an experimental facility, preliminary data processing, displaying on a computer monitor screen in real-time and data logging on the operator request. The paper presents the structure and characteristics of the IMC developed on the basis of ICP DAS products. A PCI-1602F card is used to measure current and voltage of TIC, and I-7000 modules are used to measure thermocouple signals. The designed program for CVC measuring provides an operator with convenient graphical interface and the ability to change measurement parameters. Errors of CVC measuring are defined during test measurements by using TIC imitators. The developed IMC provides enhanced functionality in measuring of signals of thermocouples in an experimental facility. The measurement error in the diffusion part of the VAC (with TIC current less than 3 A) with a TIC imitator is less than 1%. The structure of IMC allows simple upgrades such as increasing of number of measuring channels and adding of modules from another vendor. Operating experience of this IMC will be used in the design of an IMC for a reactor testing facility to perform similar functions.

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thermionic converter information-measuring complex current-voltage characteristic thermocouples pulsed mode

Link for citing the article: Kirillov A.S., Yarygin V.I. The modern information-measuring complex for investigations and tests of thermionic heat to electricity converters. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2018, no. 2, pp. 137-145; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2018.2.13 (in Russian).