Thermionic modules

Patent · Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2002

OSTI ID:874526

King, Donald B ^[1]; Sadwick, Laurence P ^[2]; Wernsman, Bernard R ^[3]

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1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Salt Lake City, UT
3. Clairton, PA

Modules of assembled microminiature thermionic converters (MTCs) having high energy-conversion efficiencies and variable operating temperatures manufactured using MEMS manufacturing techniques including chemical vapor deposition. The MTCs incorporate cathode to anode spacing of about 1 micron or less and use cathode and anode materials having work functions ranging from about 1 eV to about 3 eV. The MTCs also exhibit maximum efficiencies of just under 30%, and thousands of the devices and modules can be fabricated at modest costs.

• Research Organization: SANDIA CORP
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6407477
• OSTI ID: 874526
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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