THERMIONIC CELL Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: power engineering, metallurgy, transport, and other industries. SUBSTANCE: thermionic cell has sealed casing accommodating anode and cathode separated by electrode gap, heat curtain, and mechanism for electron transfer through electrode gap. Anode functions as collector and cathode, as emitter. The latter and heat curtain are arranged at opposite walls of casing in parallel to each other; emitter has emitting surface and underside surface which is in thermal contact with casing wall. Collector is made in the form of several separate plates fixed in heat curtain body and spaced apart to form gaps filled with heat curtain body. Ends of collector plates facing emissive surface of emitter are equidistant to the latter and form electrode gap. Opposite ends of collector plates form heat contact with casing wall. Electron transfer mechanism of vacuum-gap thermionic cell is made in the form of conductors arranged within heat curtain body in immediate proximity of each of collector plates on their both sides. Conductors are electrically connected to external voltage supply to build up electric field for directional movement of electrons towards collector. EFFECT: effective heat-to- electricity conversion due to improved efficiency. 7 cl, 2 dwg