Thermionic converter

Patent · Tue May 19 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:866262

Fitzpatrick, Gary O ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA

A thermionic converter (10) is set forth which includes an envelope (12) having an electron collector structure (22) attached adjacent to a wall (16). An electron emitter structure (24) is positioned adjacent the collector structure (22) and spaced apart from opposite wall (14). The emitter (24) and collector (22) structures are in a common chamber (20). The emitter structure (24) is heated substantially only by thermal radiation. Very small interelectrode gaps (28) can be maintained utilizing the thermionic converter (10) whereby increased efficiency results.

• Research Organization: RASOR ASSOC INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ET11293
• Assignee: Rasor Associates, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4667126
• Application Number: 06/444,736
• OSTI ID: 866262
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/310/
10
12
14
16
20
22
24
28
adjacent
apart
attached
chamber
collector
collector structure
common
common chamber
converter
efficiency
electrode gap
electron
electron collector
electron emitter
emitter
emitter structure
envelope
forth
gaps
heated
increased
increased efficiency
interelectrode
maintained
opposite
positioned
positioned adjacent
radiation
results
set
set forth
spaced
spaced apart
structure
structures
substantially
thermal
thermal radiation
thermionic
thermionic converter
utilizing
wall
whereby