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US 5,675,972 AGranted
Method and apparatus for vacuum diode-based devices with electride-coated electrodes
AssigneeBorealis Technical Limited
InventorJonathan Sidney Edelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vacuum diode-based devices, including Vacuum Diode Heat Pumps and Vacuum Thermionic Generators, are described in which the electrodes are coated with an electride. These materials have low work functions, which means that contact potential difference between cathode and anode may be set against the effects of space charge, resulting in an improved device whereby anode and cathode may be set at a greater distance from each other than has been previously envisaged.
Claims17
A method and apparatus for pumping heat comprising
- a) a vacuum diode, a cathode of said vacuum diode being in thermal contact with a mass from which said heat is to be removed, an anode of said vacuum diode being in thermal contact with a mass to which said heat is to be carried, said cathode of said vacuum diode having a work function consistent with copious electron emission at the temperature of said mass from which heat is to be removed, said cathode being separated from said anode by a vacuum, and,
- b) a supply of electrical power capable of supplying current at suitable voltage to said vacuum diode, the improvement wherein being that a compound composed of complexed alkali metal cations forms part of an electrode selected from the group consisting of said anode and said cathode.
A method and apparatus for converting heat to electricity comprising:
- a) a vacuum diode, a cathode of said vacuum diode being in thermal contact with a mass from which said heat is to be removed, an anode of said vacuum diode being in thermal contact with a mass to which said heat is to be carried, said cathode of said vacuum diode having a work function consistent with copious electron emission at the temperature of said mass from which heat is to be removed, said cathode being separated from said anode by a vacuum, and,
- b) an electrical load means, which is supplied in a manner comprising the steps:
- allowing electrons to flow from said cathode of said vacuum diode to the said anode of said vacuum diode, whereby heat is carried from said cathode to said anode, and an electric current,
- the improvement wherein being that a compound composed of complexed alkali metal cations forms part of an electrode selected from the group consisting of said anode and said cathode.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.