Microminiature thermionic converters
Abstract
Microminiature thermionic converts (MTCs) having high energy-conversion efficiencies and variable operating temperatures. Methods of manufacturing those converters using semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication and micromachine manufacturing techniques are also disclosed. The MTCs of the invention 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. Existing prior art thermionic converter technology has energy conversion efficiencies ranging from 5-15%. The MTCs of the present invention have maximum efficiencies of just under 30%, and thousands of the devices can be fabricated at modest costs.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Clairton, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 874018
- Patent Number(s):
- 6294858
- Application Number:
- 09/257,335
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-96AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- microminiature; thermionic; converters; converts; mtcs; energy-conversion; efficiencies; variable; operating; temperatures; methods; manufacturing; semiconductor; integrated; circuit; fabrication; micromachine; techniques; disclosed; incorporate; cathode; anode; spacing; micron; materials; functions; ranging; existing; prior; converter; technology; energy; conversion; 5-15; maximum; 30; thousands; devices; fabricated; modest; costs; circuit fabrication; conversion efficiencies; thermionic converter; anode materials; anode material; energy conversion; integrated circuit; operating temperature; operating temperatures; manufacturing techniques; modest cost; semiconductor integrated; microminiature thermionic; /310/
Citation Formats
King, Donald B, Sadwick, Laurence P, and Wernsman, Bernard R. Microminiature thermionic converters. United States: N. p., 2001.
Web.
King, Donald B, Sadwick, Laurence P, & Wernsman, Bernard R. Microminiature thermionic converters. United States.
King, Donald B, Sadwick, Laurence P, and Wernsman, Bernard R. Tue .
"Microminiature thermionic converters". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874018.
@article{osti_874018,
title = {Microminiature thermionic converters},
author = {King, Donald B and Sadwick, Laurence P and Wernsman, Bernard R},
abstractNote = {Microminiature thermionic converts (MTCs) having high energy-conversion efficiencies and variable operating temperatures. Methods of manufacturing those converters using semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication and micromachine manufacturing techniques are also disclosed. The MTCs of the invention 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. Existing prior art thermionic converter technology has energy conversion efficiencies ranging from 5-15%. The MTCs of the present invention have maximum efficiencies of just under 30%, and thousands of the devices can be fabricated at modest costs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2001},
month = {9}
}
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Works referenced in this record:
Closed spaced thermionic converter with isothermic electrodes
conference, February 2013
- Kuchrov, R.; Nikolaev, Yu.
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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