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US 10,854,805 B2Granted
Lightweight thermionic microengines for aerial vehicles
AssigneeReebeez, Inc.
InventorAnkita Ghoshal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure generally relates to lightweight thermionic microengines for aerial vehicles. The aerial vehicles include a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a combustor. The propulsion system further includes a thermionic generator that receives heat from the combustor and generates electricity. The propulsion system further includes one or more propulsion motors that receive the electricity generated by the thermionic generator. The propulsion motors may provide power to one or more propellers to generate lift and thrust for a UAV.
Claims18
A propulsion system, comprising:
- a combustor;
- a thermophotovoltaic generator that generates electricity from radiation received from an emitter;
- a thermionic generator that receives heat generated by the combustor and generates electricity, the thermionic generator including a plurality of thermionic cells having a plurality of thermoelectric legs which are implemented as only P-type thermoelectric legs where the plurality of thermionic cells are connected in an electrically series thermally parallel array of thermionic cells;
- a thermoelectric generator that receives heat generated by the combustor and generates electricity;
- one or more propulsion motors electrically connected to the thermophotovoltaic generator, the thermionic generator, and the thermoelectric generator;
- a vacuum electronics cell to which a magnetic field is applied;
- and
- a metallic mesh disposed within the magnetic field which neutralizes a space charge within the vacuum electronics cell, wherein the metallic mesh is biased by one or more of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs.
5 more elements
An aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a propulsion device, comprising:
- a combustor;
- a thermophotovoltaic generator that generates electricity from radiation received from an emitter;
- a thermionic generator that receives heat generated by the combustor and generates electricity, the thermionic generator including a plurality of thermionic cells having a plurality of thermoelectric legs which are implemented as only P-type thermoelectric legs where the plurality of thermionic cells are connected in an electrically series thermally parallel array of thermionic cells;
- a thermoelectric generator that receives heat generated by the combustor and generates electricity;
- one or more propulsion motors electrically connected to the thermophotovoltaic generator, the thermionic generator, and the thermoelectric generator;
- a vacuum electronics cell to which a magnetic field is applied;
- and
- a metallic mesh disposed within the magnetic field which neutralizes a space charge within the vacuum electronics cell, wherein the metallic mesh is biased by one or more of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.