On volt-ampere characteristics of thermionic converters in the diffusion regime with Coulomb collisions

Specific features are considered of TEC operation under diffusion conditions for high cathode temperatures (2000-2300 deg K) when Coulomb collisions are important. It has been shown that in the absence of magnetic field Coulomb collision exercise no influence on density current. When the magnetic field is present, Coulomb collisions increase the ratio of density current to density current in the absence of magnetic field; this effect, however, is smaller, than the one resulting from electron-atom collisions. Coulomb collisions effect on the current-voltage characteristic and the generated power is studied