Modeling a thermionic energy converter using finite-difference time-domain particle-in-cell simulations

A thermionic energy converter (TEC) is a static device that converts heat directly into electricity by boiling electrons off a hot emitter surface across a small inter-electrode gap to a cooler collector surface. The main challenge in TECs is overcoming the space charge limit, which limits the curre...

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Veröffentlicht in:Physics of plasmas 2014-02, Vol.21 (2), p.23510
Hauptverfasser: Lo, F. S., Lu, P. S., Ragan-Kelley, B., Minnich, A. J., Lee, T. H., Lin, M. C., Verboncoeur, J. P.
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container_end_page
container_issue 2
container_start_page 23510
container_title Physics of plasmas
container_volume 21
creator Lo, F. S.
Lu, P. S.
Ragan-Kelley, B.
Minnich, A. J.
Lee, T. H.
Lin, M. C.
Verboncoeur, J. P.
description A thermionic energy converter (TEC) is a static device that converts heat directly into electricity by boiling electrons off a hot emitter surface across a small inter-electrode gap to a cooler collector surface. The main challenge in TECs is overcoming the space charge limit, which limits the current transmitted across a gap of a given voltage and width. We have verified the feasibility of studying and developing a TEC using a bounded finite-difference time-domain particle-in-cell plasma simulation code, OOPD1, developed by Plasma Theory and Simulation Group, formerly at UC Berkeley and now at Michigan State University. In this preliminary work, a TEC has been modeled kinetically using OOPD1, and the accuracy has been verified by comparing with an analytically solvable case, giving good agreement. With further improvement of the code, one will be able to quickly and cheaply analyze space charge effects, and seek designs that mitigate the space charge effect, allowing TECs to become more efficient and cost-effective.
doi_str_mv 10.1063/1.4865828
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source AIP Journals Complete; Alma/SFX Local Collection
subjects 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCURACY
Computer simulation
Converters
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONS
Emitters
Emitters (electron)
HEAT EXCHANGERS
Mathematical analysis
Particle in cell technique
PLASMA
Plasma physics
PLASMA SIMULATION
Simulation
SPACE CHARGE
SURFACES
title Modeling a thermionic energy converter using finite-difference time-domain particle-in-cell simulations
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