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SORPTION RESERVOIRS FOR THERMIONIC CONVERTERS

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Missile Defense Agency 		Award ID:
10304 		Program Year/Program:
1990 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
10304 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Thermacore, Inc.
780 Eden Road Lancaster, PA -
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Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 1990
Title: SORPTION RESERVOIRS FOR THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
Agency / Branch: DOD / MDA
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $536,000.00
 

Abstract:

THERMIONIC ENERGY CONVERTERS, AS THEY NOW EXIST, ARE THREE-TEMPERATURE DEVICES: INPUT (EMITTER), OUTPUT (COLLECTOR) AND CESIUM RESERVOIR. THE RESERVOIR REQUIRES PRECISE CONTROL AT A TEMPERATURE ON THE ORDER OF 600K. A SEPARATE RESERVOIR IS REQUIRED FOR EACH CONVERTER OR THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENT. THE COMPLEXITY ARISING FROM THE RESERVOIR CONTROL PROBLEM IS SUFFICIENT TO DISQUALIFY THERMIONIC SYSTEMS IN SOME INSTANCES. IN THIS PROGRAM, AN INTERNAL SELF-CONTROLLING CESIUM RESERVOIR IS BEING DEVELOPED, MAKING THE THERMIONIC CONVERTER A TRUE TWO-TEMPERATURE DEVICE. PREVIOUS WORK HAS IDENTIFIED AT LEAST TWO TYPES OF RESERVOIRS USING SORPTION PRINCIPLES. EACH HAS LIFE LIMITING FAILURE MECHANISMS. THIS TECHNICAL APPROACH IS EXPECTED TO ELIMINATE THESE FAILURE MECHANISMS, YIELDING A RELIABLE, LONG-LIVED CONVERTER. WHEN SUCCESSFUL,THE USE OF THERMIONIC CONVERSION WOULD BE GREATLY SIMPLIFIED. THIS SIMPLIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THERMIONIC CONVERSION PRACTICAL FOR USE IN SPACE POWER PLANTS AND POTENTIALLY FOR LUNAR AND PLANETARY BASES.

Principal Investigator:

John H Rosenfeld
7175696551

Business Contact:

Small Business Information at Submission:

Thermacore Inc.
780 Eden Rd Lancaster, PA 17601

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No