- •Reading
- •Portable generator
- •Thermoelectric Generators
- •The Basic Phenomenon
- •Principle of Operation
- •Fig.5. (a) Operating principle of a thermionic generator. (b) Potential energy diagram of electrons of the thermionic system
- •Fig.6. Plot of efficiency vs. Cathode temperature for a number of materials for thermionic generators under investigation at the Westinghouse research laboratories
Fig.6. Plot of efficiency vs. Cathode temperature for a number of materials for thermionic generators under investigation at the Westinghouse research laboratories
Note that each material dictates an operating temperature and that many materials reach excessive evaporation rates before interesting efficiencies can be achieved.
Another important factor determines the current flow in a thermionic converter. This phenomenon is called space charge the mutual repulsion of electrons. An electron emerging from the cathode finds itself in the company of a swarm of other electrons, all similarly charged, from which it is repelled. This will drive most of the electrons back into the cathode before they have a chance to reach the anode. One practical way for eliminating space charge consists of introducing heavy positive ions in numbers sufficient to neutralize the charge electrons.
Application of thermionic converters for the commercial generation of power appears most favorable when the thermionic element is used as a topping unit for a nuclear steam plant, thereby taking advantage of the high temperatures available from the fuel.
Thermionic conversion offers one possible means of obtaining efficient conversion of heat to electrical power. Whether it becomes competitive with other means will depend largely on the solution of problems concerning the properties of materials. In the past there has been no particular urge to find or produce materials having the peculiar properties demanded by the thermionic converter. The field is therefore largely unexplored and advances of considerable magnitude can be expected.
By John Coltman
Vocabulary Study
Put the following words in their proper forms into the blanks:
apply, application, supply, efficient, efficiency, rate, available
1. High internal resistivity of the material will reduce its …
Compressive forces must be … through spring-loading.
These materials are … today and are used for military… .
Small conventional power … have an … of 5%.
Present energy sources are unable to … our needs for electric power.
Today a thermoelectric generator … at 5,000 watts is available.
Speaking
Task 9
Speak on different ways of generating electricity