Thermionic converter

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:862658

Rasor, Ned S ^[1]; Britt, Edward J ^[2]

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1. Sunnyvale, CA
2. Cupertino, CA

A gas-filled thermionic converter is provided with a collector and an emitter having a main emitter region and an auxiliary emitter region in electrical contact with the main emitter region. The main emitter region is so positioned with respect to the collector that a main gap is formed therebetween and the auxiliary emitter region is so positioned with respect to the collector that an auxiliary gap is formed therebetween partially separated from the main gap with access allowed between the gaps to allow ionizable gas in each gap to migrate therebetween. With heat applied to the emitter the work function of the auxiliary emitter region is sufficiently greater than the work function of the collector so that an ignited discharge occurs in the auxiliary gap and the work function of the main emitter region is so related to the work function of the collector that an unignited discharge occurs in the main gap sustained by the ions generated in the auxiliary gap. A current flows through a load coupled across the emitter and collector due to the unignited discharge in the main gap.

• Research Organization: Rasor Associates, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-2263
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 3983423
• OSTI ID: 862658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

thermionic
converter
gas-filled
provided
collector
emitter
main
region
auxiliary
electrical
contact
positioned
respect
gap
formed
therebetween
partially
separated
access
allowed
gaps
allow
ionizable
gas
migrate
heat
applied
function
sufficiently
ignited
discharge
occurs
related
unignited
sustained
generated
current
flows
load
coupled
due
emitter region
ionizable gas
formed therebetween
thermionic converter
electrical contact
current flow
current flows
discharge occurs
main emitter
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