Hybrid thermionic energy converter and method

A solid-state thermionic converter for converting heat to electricity comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter;
• an electrically and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said barrier and intimate contact with the emitter, or the collector, or a combination thereof;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the emitter and barrier, or the barrier and collector, or a combination thereof.

A solid-state thermionic converter for converting beat to electricity comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter;
• an electrically and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said emitter and in intimate contact with the barrier;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the barrier.

A solid-state thermionic converter for converting heat to electricity comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter;
• an electrical and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said collector and in intimate contact with the barrier;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the barriers.

A solid-state thermionic converter for providing cooling comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter connected to a thermal load;
• an electrically and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter, said collector having a back surface acting as a heat exchanger;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said emitter, barrier, or collector and disposed between and in intimate contact with the emitter and barrier, or the barrier and collector, or a combination thereof;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the emitter and barrier, or the barrier and collector, or a combination thereof.

A solid-state thermionic converter for providing cooling comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter;
• an electrically and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter, said collector having a back surface acting as a heat exchanger;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said barrier and disposed between and in intimate contact with the emitter and barrier, or the barrier and collector, or a combination thereof;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the emitter end barrier, or the barrier and collector, or a combination thereof.

A solid-state thermionic converter for providing cooling comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter;
• an electrically and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter, said collector having a back surface acting as a heat exchanger;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said emitter and in intimate contact with the barrier;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the barrier.

A solid-state thermionic converter for providing cooling comprising:

• an electrically and thermally conductive electron emitter;
• an electrically and thermally conductive electron collector for receiving electrons from the emitter, said collector having a back surface acting as a heat exchanger;
• an electrically conductive barrier disposed between said emitter and collector for filtering high energy electrons transferred from the emitter to the collector;
• one or more electrically and thermally conductive fractional surface contacts integral to said collector and in intimate contact with the barrier;
• and
• a thermally and electrically nonconductive space adjacent to the fractional surface contacts and the barrier.