Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively, surely and safely utilize the clean and environment-friendly solar light heat as a heat source for generating power, and drastically improve the efficiency for converting thermal energy into electrical energy by directly supplying the thermal energy to an electron emitting member. SOLUTION: The thermionic power generation system comprises a Fresnel lens 1 for collecting the solar light heat, a quartz glass light guiding fiber 3 for guiding the heat source at a temperature of approximately 600°C-2,000°C collected by the Fresnel lens 1 to a predetermined location, and a thermionic power generator 10 for generating power by thermal electrons e emitted from the electron emitting member 13 for receiving the thermal energy from the light guiding fiber 3. The thermionic power generator 10 comprises a transparent quartz glass vacuum vessel 11, an electrode 12, the electron emitting member 13 for emitting the thermal electrons e heated by the thermal energy from the light guide fiber 3, an electrode 14 for receiving the thermal electrons e, and a load 15 connected between the electrodes 12, 14. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PURPOSE:To provide a thermionic generating element, in, which a clearance between an emitter electrode and a collector electrode can be adjusted and maintained at a specified value for a prolonged term, and an adjusting method of the clearance of the electrodes. CONSTITUTION:In a thermionic generating element 1 with an emitter electrode 2 emitting thermions, a collector electrode 4 collecting thermions from the emitter electrode 2 and electrode supporting materials 3, 5 being extended and mounted on each of the emitter electrode 2 and the collector electrode 4 and supporting both electrodes in a specified clearance, the specified clearance is adjusted by the bent electrode supporting materials 3, 4 deformed in response to a temperature change. The clearance between the emitter electrode 2 and the collector electrode 4 is adjusted by the deformation of the electrode supporting materials 3, 4 in response to heat generated by currents flowing through each electrode supporting material 3, 4.
Abstract:
PURPOSE:To manufacture a titled cathode at a low cost with a metallic film for the cathode of a thermionic generating element by forming the effective part contributing to electric generation of a metal having a large work function and forming the other part of an inexpensive metal having a small specific gravity. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrical base body 12 closed at one end to a semispherical shape is formed of graphite and a protective film 14 is formed of silicon carbide on the outside circumference of the body 12. A metallic film 13 of a cathode body is formed on the inside surface to constitute a cathode 11. The formation of the film 13 is accomplished by forming a film 13a of a metal having a large work function (tungsten) on the inside surface of the head part of the body 12 and the region adjacent to said head part by using a CVD method while cooling the straight part of said body, then forming a film 13b of the 2nd metal (molybdenum) by a CVD method on the inside surface of the straight part while cooling the head part. The cathode 11 of the thermionic generating element is thus nexpensively produced.