Structural Design of Intercell Connector for a Thermionic Energy Converter

Abstract

This paper designs a compensating component for a thermionic energy converter, called the intercell connector. Based on the detailed analysis of the special working conditions and reasonable material selection of the intercell connector, the slotted cylinder design is proposed from the empirical design, and the relevant parameters and requirements of the intercell connector are given. By using finite element method, the nonlinear simulation model of a three-cell thermionic energy converter is established, and further optimized, and the optimal geometric parameters of the design structure of the intercell connector are obtained. On this basis, for the stress concentration problem, the end of the slot is designed with holes, and the finite element analysis results of the final structure meet the design requirements.