Thermionic converter

Patent · Tue May 19 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6377296

Fitzpatrick, G O

A thermionic converter is described comprising: an envelope having first and second walls spaced apart from one another. The envelope defines an enclosed chamber; an electron collector structure attached adjacent to the second wall; an electron emitter structure, located adjacent the collector structure and between the collector structure and the first wall. At least a respective one of the collector structure and the emitter structure comprise elements, each of the elements along with a respective other of the collector structure and the emitter structure defining interelectrode gaps at least when the emitter structure is above a selected temperature. The emitter structure is spaced a distance away from the first wall and is positioned to receive substantially only thermal radiation.

• Assignee: Rasor Associates, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4667126
• OSTI ID: 6377296
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 26 Nov 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
DESIGN
OPERATION
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON EMISSION
SPACE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
WALLS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EMISSION
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300401* - Thermionic Converters- Design & Development