System and method for thermionic energy conversion
AssigneeSpark Thermionics, Inc.
InventorsFelix Schmitt, Jared William Schwede, Adam Lorimer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for thermionic energy generation, preferably including one or more thermionic energy converters, and optionally including one or more power inputs, airflow modules, and/or electrical loads. A thermionic energy converter, preferably including an emitter module, a collector module, and/or a seal, and optionally including a spacer. The thermionic energy converter preferably defines a chamber and/or a heating cavity. A method for thermionic energy generation, preferably including receiving power, emitting electrons, and/or receiving the emitted electrons, and optionally including convectively transferring heat.
Claims20
A method for thermionic energy conversion, comprising:
- at an electron emitter of a thermionic energy converter (TEC):
- receiving heat from a heating cavity defined by an inner member of the TEC, wherein the electron emitter is maintained above a first temperature by the heat;
- and
- in response to being maintained above the first temperature, emitting electrons into a chamber defined by the TEC, toward an electron collector of the TEC, wherein the electron collector opposes the electron emitter across the chamber;
- at the electron collector, receiving the electrons, wherein, while the electron emitter is maintained above the first temperature, the electron collector is maintained below a second temperature substantially lower than the first temperature;
- and
- in response to emitting and receiving the electrons, driving an electrical load conductively coupled to the electron collector and the electron emitter, wherein the electron emitter is conductively coupled to the electrical load via the inner member and an outer member;
- wherein the outer member mechanically couples the electron collector to the electron emitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.