Abstract:
A device and method for producing electricity by harnessing sunlight to produce an amplified voltage signal, the device including: (a) a sealed chamber, defined by a transparent housing; (b) an excitable medium, disposed within the chamber, in which, when the medium is exposed to solar light having wavelengths in a range of 0.2 to 3 micrometers, bound electrons in the excitable medium are elevated to at least one higher energy state; (c) electrodes, disposed in a spaced apart fashion, whereby the medium is between, and fluidly communicates with, the electrodes; (d) an electric circuit, the medium and the electrodes completing the circuit; (e) an initiating mechanism, adapted to initiate an initial voltage signal through the chamber, between the electrodes, and (f) a power source, associated with the circuit, and adapted to maintain the first voltage signal through the chamber, between the electrodes, whereby the bound electrons in the higher energy state transfer energy to free electrons traversing the first voltage signal to produce the amplified voltage signal, and wherein the excitable medium is selected, and adapted within the chamber, to absorb at least 5% of an energy flux within a wavelength range of 0.2 to 3 micrometers, emitted by a black body operating at 5500K, by elevating the bound electrons to the higher energy state.
Abstract:
Stable generation of electricity can be achieved based on a new concept different from those of the conventional electricity generating methods, with a small external energy input, with high efficiency, and without apprehension of exhaustion, while paying due consideration to the environment. The electricity generating apparatus includes an electron supplier (20) made of a metal or a free-electron material, an electron emitting port (30) provided electrically conductive with the electron supplier (20), an electron extracting electrode (40) provided opposite to the electron emitting port (30) via an electrical insulation region (F) and for applying an electrical field to cause electrons to be attracted and emitted from the electron emitting port (30), an electron collector (50) for collecting the electrons emitted by the electron extracting electrode (40), and an electron absorption preventing means for preventing the electrons emitted from the electron emitting port (30) from being absorbed by the electron extracting electrode (40), wherein a positive voltage is applied to the electron extracting electrode (40) to cause the electrons to be field-emitted from the electron emitting port (30), and the emitted electrons are received and collected by the electron collector (50).
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for making a thermotunneling device. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises metal/semiconductor or semiconductor/semiconductor bonded material combinations that allows current flow between a hot plate and a cold plate of a thermoelectric device, and interrupting a flow of phonons between the hot plate and the cold plate of the thermoelectric device, wherein the interrupted flow is caused by a nanogap, said nanogap being formed by applying a small voltage or current between the two sides of the thermoelectric device.
Abstract:
Solid state thermionic energy converter semiconductor diode implementation and method for conversion of thermal energy to electric energy, and electric energy to refrigeration. In embodiments of this invention a highly doped n region (14) can serve as an emitter region, from which carriers can be injected into a gap region. The gap region (16) can be p-type, intrinsic, or moderately doped n-type (14). A hot ohmic contact (12) is connected to the n-type region. A cold ohmic contact (20) serves as a collector and is connected to the other side of the gap region. The cold ohmic contact has a recombination region formed between the cold ohmic contact and the gap region and a blocking compensation layer that reduces the thermoelectric back flow component. The heated emitter relative to the collector generates an emf which drives current through a series load. The inventive principle works for hole conductivity, as well as for electrons.
Abstract:
A combustion chamber (1)-thermionic device (3)-electric motor in an automobile. The combustion chamber provides a heat output which is transformed to electricity by the thermionic device (3) and a motor converts the electrical energy to motive power for the wheels (19).
Abstract:
The present invention is a tunnel diode, in which the space between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode is occupied by a porous material which has a thickness less then the free mean free path of an electron in the porous material. The present invention also includes heat pumping and power generation devices comprising the tunnel diode.
Abstract:
An apparatus which converts a solar energy of a wide-region spectrum of the sunlight by discretely disposing an electron emission electrode and an electron collecting electrode in a vacuum container and by efficiently collecting electrons emitted from the electron emission electrode to the electron collecting electrode.
Abstract:
A thermionic electric converter comprising: a casing member; a cathode within the casing member operable when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the casing member operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode; and a laser operable to hit electrons between the cathode and anode, thus providing quantum interference with the electrons such that electrons are more readily captured by the anode.