Quantifying the heat switching capability of a thermionic diode

The Integrated Solar Upper Stage (ISUS) Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD) program, recently initiated by the US Air Force Phillips Laboratory (USAF PL), will demonstrate the feasibility of a combined solar power and propulsion upper stage. The solar bimodal design approach will use thermal energy storage to reduce engine mass and concentrator area. However, in order to store enough energy over an orbit period there must be minimal heat lost with a system that is designed to remove heat for energy conversion. A unique feature of thermionics is their ability to reduce heat flow by reducing or eliminating the electron cooling. However, demonstration and quantification of this capability is needed. This paper presents the results to date of the Receiver Diode Integration Test, one of two critical experiments of the ISUS ATD program being performed by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). Results of the demonstration testing of thermionic heat pipe modules (THPMs) to operate as heat switches in conjunction with the solar receiver cavity are presented as are the performance limits and operational constraints of a combined receiver/diode subsystem