Thermionic Power Conversion for Scramjets and Reentry Vehicles Using Nanosecond Voltage Pulses
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Modeling and experimental studies were conducted into the use of nanosecond scale voltage pulses in an inert gas in order to provide positive ions in the interelectrode space of a thermionic power converter. These studies show that even with repetition rates lower than 50kHz, the pulses have the ability to sustain a plasma that will allow the passage and collection of a significant fraction of thermionically emitted current without the application of an external bias. Thus the configuration is capable of operating as a thermionic conversion device. This method of dealing with the space charge retarding force has the potential to be applied to large scale, two dimensional surfaces in a way that has not been successfully implemented with conventional methodologies. Copyright 2008 by Authors.