Vacuum Thermionic Energy

Converters
 INTRODUCTION
• Thermionic energy converter (TEC) is a heat
engine that generates electricity directly using
heat as its source of energy and electron as its
working fluid.
 CLASSIFICATION
a) Vacuum TECS (VTECS)
b) Vapor TECS
 Vacuum TEC
• Higher conversion efficiency, reducing our
dependency on the conventional energy resources is
our goal. Efficient, direct thermal energy to
electricity conversions could be a suitable
alternative to the conventional approaches, as they
eliminate losses due to mechanical work during the
conversion process, which reduces the overall
efficiency.
• A VTEC has a small, highly evacuated inter electrode
space, electrons travels within it.
 Factors effecting efficiency
• Space charge
 METHOD TO REDUCE THE SPACE CHARGE EFFECT
• Reducing inter electrode space
• Combined magnetic and electrostatic diode
 Factors effecting efficiency
• Work function
• Surface nano structuring of thin metal coating
on emitter
• Coating of low work function material on the
surface of a emitter.
 APPLICATIONS
• Cogeneration of steam power plant
 APPLICATIONS
• Topping cycle for steam power plant
 APPLICATIONS
• solar vacuum thermionic–thermoelectric
generator
Thank you