Thermionic generator
AssigneeBorealis Technical Limited
InventorJonathan Sidney Edelson
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Abstract
A method for building a thermionic converter comprises providing an electrode and creating a central depression of substantially uniform depth on a face of the electrode. A surface of the central depression is coated with a layer comprising a thermionic material. A second electrode comprising a face is also provided, wherein the face of the second electrode comprises a central depression of substantially uniform depth, wherein the central depression is coated with a layer comprising a thermionic material.
Claims28
A method for building a thermionic converter comprising the steps of:
- providing an electrode;
- creating a central depression of substantially uniform depth on a face of said electrode;
- and
- coating a surface of said central depression with a layer comprising a thermionic material.
A method for building a thermionic converter using a micromachining technique comprising the steps of:
- providing an electrode;
- creating a central depression of substantially uniform depth on a face of said electrode using a micromachining technique;
- coating a surface of said central depression with a layer comprising a thermionic material;
- and
- providing a second electrode comprising a face, wherein said face of said second electrode comprises a central depression of substantially uniform depth, wherein said central depression of said second electrode is coated with a layer comprising a thermionic material.
A method for converting heat to electricity comprising:
- providing a thermionic converter comprising:
- a first electrode, wherein a face of said first electrode comprises a central depression of substantially uniform depth, wherein said first electrode further comprises a coating of thermionic material on said central depression;
- an edge region on said first electrode comprising a channel cut along two opposing sides of said central depression;
- a second electrode, wherein a face of said second electrode comprises a central depression of substantially uniform depth, wherein said second electrode further comprises a coating of thermionic material;
- and
- an edge region on said second electrode comprising a channel cut along two opposing sides of said central depression, wherein said first electrode is joined with said second electrode wherein said edge region in said first electrode is in contact with said edge region in said second electrode;
- providing a gap between said thermionic material on said first electrode and said thermionic material on said second electrode;
- connecting an electrical load to said thermionic converter;
- and
- allowing electrons to flow from said thermionic material of said first electrode to said thermionic material of said second electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.