Hybrid thermal electric generator
US5492570A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J45/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The apparatus is a combined Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) and a thermionic energy converter which are mated by the use of a common heat transfer device which can be a heat pipe, pumped fluid or a simple heat conduction path. By adjusting the heat output surface area of the thermionic converter and the heat input surface area of the AMTEC, the heat transfer device accomplishes not only the transfer of heat from the output of the thermionic converter to the input of the AMTEC, but also the transformation of the heat density to match the requirements of the AMTEC input. The electrical current through the combined devices is also matched by adjusting the heated surface area of the AMTEC.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.