Influence of the Radial Unevenness of Energy Release in the Converter Reactor on the Characteristics of an Electrogenerating Channel

12/10/2025 2025 - #04 Physics and methods for direct conversion of nuclear energy

Lazarenko G.E. Shcherbachev S.S.

https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.4.10

In this paper the effect of the neutron flux density gradient in the core of a thermionic converter reactor on the output characteristics of an electrogenerating channel is considered. The calculation was performed using the one-dimensional TFEDM22 program according to a specially developed methodology, which includes dividing the generating elements into longitudinal segments isolated from each other and summing the currents generated in them, provided that the potentials at the ends of the generating elements of all segments of the electrogenerating channel are the same. The calculated points of the current-voltage characteristic of the generating channel were constructed using the iterative method of selecting the potential difference on the generating element according to a given total current through the generating channel. Further the calculated results obtained using the one-dimensional program and the developed methodology were compared.

The purpose of the work is to estimate the error in calculating the output characteristics of the electrogenerating channel using one-dimensional programs. The calculation method consisted in dividing the power generating channel into longitudinal segments and calculating their characteristics under the assumption of the adiabatic boundary conditions.

A significant increase in the calculated error has been demonstrated with an increase in the size of the fuel element (in particular, in calculation of an electrogenerating channel with a complex geometry – with an external arrangement of fuel and a combined generating channel). The necessity of using two- and three-dimensional programs for these types of electrogenerating channels is shown.

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thermoionic converter electrogenerating channel electrogenerating channel with a complex geometry unevenness of energy release TFEDM22

Link for citing the article: Lazarenko G.E., Shcherbachev S.S. Influence of the Radial Unevenness of Energy Release in the Converter Reactor on the Characteristics of an Electrogenerating Channel. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025, no. 4, pp. 138-147; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.4.10 (in Russian).