Lockheed Martin Corporation
Multi-apertured conduction heater

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a system includes a thermionic emitter and a heater at least partially surrounding the thermionic emitter. The heater is configured to heat the thermionic emitter. The heater includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of hollow insulating tubes that each run from the first end to the second end. The heater also includes a heater wire that runs through each of the hollow insulating tubes. The heater wire is configured to be resistively heated by an electrical current passed through the heater wire.