Thermionic energy conversion

Thermionic energy conversion is a method of converting heat directly to electricity. A metal electrode, the emitter, is heated sufficiently to emit electrons, as shown in Figure 1. The electrons cross a narrow interelectrode gap and are collected by another metal electrode, the collector. Heat is removed from the collector so that its temperature is lower than the emitter, and the electrons striking the collector cannot be returned except by... 

Britt, E. J. and McVey, J., "Advanced Thermionic Energy Conversion, Joint Highlights and Status Report" Rasor Associates., COO-2263-16, NSR 2-16, 1979. 

Smith, M. D., Manda, M. L., and Britt, E. J., "Utilization of Low Temperature Insulators and Seals in Thermionic Con verters", 15th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Washington, 1980. 

Goodale, D. B., Reagan, P. Miskolczy, G., Lieb, D. and Huffman, F. N. "Characteristics of CVD Silicon Carbide Thermionic Converters", 16th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Atlanta, GA, 1981. 

Development of collector electrode materials with lower work function ( 1.0 eV) is the most effective methods to improve energy conversion efficiency of a thermionic converter. At present refractory metals such as Mo, W, Nb with cesium adsorption are used as a collector with the work function values of about 1.7eV. It is suggested that metal oxide collectors can adsorb cesium more strongly and show lower values of work function. In the study, refractory metal oxides and AgO x were experimentally examined concerning the work function values and high temperature durability. A research thermionic converter of a W emitter and an AgO x collector was fabricated and power generation tested to examine the effectiveness of the AgO x collector. A new type of a FGM collector which integrates a... 

Thermionic energy conversion is a power generation method which can be used to convert thermal energy into electric energy directly. A thermionic energy converter is a nonmechanical device that has high reliability. Research has been carried out on thermionic energy converters for use in space and ocean environments. 

Hatsopoulos, G.N., Gyftopoulos, E.P. (1973), Thermionic Energy Conversion, Vol. 1 Processes and Devices, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 

Rasor, N. S. (1982). Thermionic energy conversion. In Applied Atomic Collision Physics, Ch. 5, Vol. 5. Academic Press, New York. 

Ponomarev-Stepnoi NN, Usov VA (1995) Conceptual design of the bimodal nudear power system based on the Romashka type reactor the thermionic energy conversion system. In 12th Symposium on... 

Applications for carbides and diborides would include cathodes for advanced thermionic energy conversion, high-current-density field emission cathodes. These require spectral emit-tance data, which are also related to measuring accurate high temperatures. 

Brayton conversion systems have advantages and disadvantages. They are more efficient than most static power conversion systems (e g., thermoelectric or thermionic based systems), and they are more durable and simpler than the other dynamic power conversion systems. However, Brayton cycles do require higher temperatures to achieve the same efficiency as other dynamic power conversion systems. The energy density of the working fluid is low compared to the other dynamic power conversion systems. 

ThC thermionic emission, refractoriness the conversion of heat energy into electrical energy [244] 1961... 

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