Narrow gap thermionic power generator

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25600129
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General applied physics
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: ONO Takahito 東北大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90282095)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TODA Masaya 東北大学, 大学院工学研究科, 准教授 (40509890)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 熱電子発電 / 排熱 / マイクロ発電 / クリーンエネルギー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Thermionic power generation is one of clean sources, which directly converts heat into electrical energy using thermionic electrons. We developed a micro-gap thermionic power generator, which operates at relatively low temperature using SiC as an emitter.In this work, we have firstly demonstrated low temperature operation at 830 degree C as a result of micro-gap between the emitter and collector electrodes. An output power density of 11.5 mW/cm2 is obtained. Besides, the heat losses from the emitter electrode are evaluated and calculated. The thermal resistance of the micro-gap is measured to be 2.4 K/W. As a result,thermal conduction to the collector is by far the predominant thermal loss. It is needed for downsizing the silicon dioxide columns of the micro-gap in order to increase the power conversion efficiency.

Free Research Field

ナノ電気機械システム