Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications
Thermionic energy conversion (TEC) is the direct conversion of heat into electricity by the mechanism of thermionic emission, the spontaneous ejection of hot electrons from a surface. Although the physical mechanism has been known for over a century, it has yet to be consistently realized in a manne...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmech.2017.00013/full |
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doaj-465bd7983ac7422caacea57b8f9c91892020-11-25T00:02:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering2297-30792017-11-01310.3389/fmech.2017.00013296537Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial ApplicationsDavid B. Go0David B. Go1John R. Haase2John R. Haase3Jeffrey George4Jochen Mannhart5Robin Wanke6Alireza Nojeh7Robert Nemanich8Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesDepartment of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United StatesJohnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Houston, TX, United StatesMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United StatesThermionic energy conversion (TEC) is the direct conversion of heat into electricity by the mechanism of thermionic emission, the spontaneous ejection of hot electrons from a surface. Although the physical mechanism has been known for over a century, it has yet to be consistently realized in a manner practical for large-scale deployment. This perspective article provides an assessment of the potential of TEC systems for space and terrestrial applications in the twenty-first century, overviewing recent advances in the field and identifying key research challenges. Recent developments as well as persisting research needs in materials, device design, fundamental understanding, and testing and validation are discussed.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmech.2017.00013/fullthermal energy conversionthermionic energy conversionthermionic emissionheat engineelectron emission |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
David B. Go David B. Go John R. Haase John R. Haase Jeffrey George Jochen Mannhart Robin Wanke Alireza Nojeh Robert Nemanich |
| spellingShingle |
David B. Go David B. Go John R. Haase John R. Haase Jeffrey George Jochen Mannhart Robin Wanke Alireza Nojeh Robert Nemanich Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering thermal energy conversion thermionic energy conversion thermionic emission heat engine electron emission |
| author_facet |
David B. Go David B. Go John R. Haase John R. Haase Jeffrey George Jochen Mannhart Robin Wanke Alireza Nojeh Robert Nemanich |
| author_sort |
David B. Go |
| title |
Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications |
| title_short |
Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications |
| title_full |
Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications |
| title_fullStr |
Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Thermionic Energy Conversion in the Twenty-first Century: Advances and Opportunities for Space and Terrestrial Applications |
| title_sort |
thermionic energy conversion in the twenty-first century: advances and opportunities for space and terrestrial applications |
| publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
| series |
Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering |
| issn |
2297-3079 |
| publishDate |
2017-11-01 |
| description |
Thermionic energy conversion (TEC) is the direct conversion of heat into electricity by the mechanism of thermionic emission, the spontaneous ejection of hot electrons from a surface. Although the physical mechanism has been known for over a century, it has yet to be consistently realized in a manner practical for large-scale deployment. This perspective article provides an assessment of the potential of TEC systems for space and terrestrial applications in the twenty-first century, overviewing recent advances in the field and identifying key research challenges. Recent developments as well as persisting research needs in materials, device design, fundamental understanding, and testing and validation are discussed. |
| topic |
thermal energy conversion thermionic energy conversion thermionic emission heat engine electron emission |
| url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmech.2017.00013/full |
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