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Title: Microminiature thermionic converters

Patent ·
OSTI ID:874018
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
  2. Salt Lake City, UT
  3. Clairton, PA
+ Show Author Affiliations

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.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-96AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
US 6294858
Application Number:
09/257,335
OSTI ID:
874018
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Closed spaced thermionic converter with isothermic electrodes conference February 2013
Close-spaced thermionic converters with active spacing control and heat-pipe isothermal emitters
  • 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
conference January 1996

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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
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