Self-powered microthermionic converter

Marshall, Albert C.; King, Donald B.; Zavadil, Kevin R.; Kravitz, Stanley H.; Tigges, Chris P.; Vawter, Gregory A.

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A - human necessities
A01 - agriculture
A21 - baking
A22 - butchering
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A24 - tobacco
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Title: Self-powered microthermionic converter

Abstract

A self-powered microthermionic converter having an internal thermal power source integrated into the microthermionic converter. These converters can have high energy-conversion efficiencies over a range of operating temperatures. Microengineering techniques are used to manufacture the converter. The utilization of an internal thermal power source increases potential for mobility and incorporation into small devices. High energy efficiency is obtained by utilization of micron-scale interelectrode gap spacing. Alpha-particle emitting radioisotopes can be used for the internal thermal power source, such as curium and polonium isotopes.

Inventors:: Marshall, Albert C.; King, Donald B.; Zavadil, Kevin R.; Kravitz, Stanley H.; Tigges, Chris P.; Vawter, Gregory A.

Issue Date:: 2004-08-10

Research Org.:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1174979

Patent Number(s):: 6774532

Application Number:: 10/028,144

Assignee:: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES

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G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
G21H1/106 - {Cells provided with thermionic generators}

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DOE Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

Citation Formats


                    Marshall, Albert C., King, Donald B., Zavadil, Kevin R., Kravitz, Stanley H., Tigges, Chris P., and Vawter, Gregory A. Self-powered microthermionic converter.  United States: N. p., 2004. 
        Web.

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                    Marshall, Albert C., King, Donald B., Zavadil, Kevin R., Kravitz, Stanley H., Tigges, Chris P., & Vawter, Gregory A. Self-powered microthermionic converter.  United States.

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                    Marshall, Albert C., King, Donald B., Zavadil, Kevin R., Kravitz, Stanley H., Tigges, Chris P., and Vawter, Gregory A. Tue .  
        "Self-powered microthermionic converter".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1174979.

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@article{osti_1174979,

  title        = {Self-powered microthermionic converter},

  author       = {Marshall, Albert C. and King, Donald B. and Zavadil, Kevin R. and Kravitz, Stanley H. and Tigges, Chris P. and Vawter, Gregory A.},

  abstractNote = {A self-powered microthermionic converter having an internal thermal power source integrated into the microthermionic converter. These converters can have high energy-conversion efficiencies over a range of operating temperatures. Microengineering techniques are used to manufacture the converter. The utilization of an internal thermal power source increases potential for mobility and incorporation into small devices. High energy efficiency is obtained by utilization of micron-scale interelectrode gap spacing. Alpha-particle emitting radioisotopes can be used for the internal thermal power source, such as curium and polonium isotopes.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2004},

  month        = {8}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Development of Thick-Film Thermoelectric Microcoolers Using Electrochemical Deposition
journal, January 1998

Fleurial, J. -P.; Borshchevsky, A.; Ryan, M. A.
MRS Proceedings, Vol. 545
https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-545-493

Closed spaced thermionic converter with isothermic electrodes
conference, February 2013

Kuchrov, R.; Nikolaev, Yu.
Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1994-3978

Multilayer Thermionic Refrigeration
journal, May 1998

Mahan, G. D.; Woods, L. M.
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 80, Issue 18
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.4016

Heterostructure integrated thermionic coolers
journal, September 1997

Shakouri, Ali; Bowers, John E.
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 71, Issue 9
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.119861

Close-spaced thermionic converters with active spacing control and heat-pipe isothermal emitters
conference, January 1996

Fitzpatrick, G. O.; Koester, J. K.; Chang, J.
IECEC 96. 31st Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, IECEC 96. Proceedings of the 31st Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
https://doi.org/10.1109/IECEC.1996.553821

Applications of out-of-core close-spaced thermionics
conference, January 1993

Allen, Daniel T.; Nikolaev, Yuri V.; Eryomin, Stanislav A.
Proceedings of the tenth symposium on soacpace nuclear and propulsion, AIP Conference Proceedings
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43135

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Similar Records

Title: Self-powered microthermionic converter

Abstract

Citation Formats

Development of Thick-Film Thermoelectric Microcoolers Using Electrochemical Deposition journal, January 1998

Closed spaced thermionic converter with isothermic electrodes conference, February 2013

Multilayer Thermionic Refrigeration journal, May 1998

Heterostructure integrated thermionic coolers journal, September 1997

Close-spaced thermionic converters with active spacing control and heat-pipe isothermal emitters conference, January 1996

Applications of out-of-core close-spaced thermionics conference, January 1993

Development of Thick-Film Thermoelectric Microcoolers Using Electrochemical Deposition
journal, January 1998

Closed spaced thermionic converter with isothermic electrodes
conference, February 2013

Multilayer Thermionic Refrigeration
journal, May 1998

Heterostructure integrated thermionic coolers
journal, September 1997

Close-spaced thermionic converters with active spacing control and heat-pipe isothermal emitters
conference, January 1996

Applications of out-of-core close-spaced thermionics
conference, January 1993