This course covers the learning outcomes and goals of understanding wafer-scale thermionic energy converters. Students will learn about thermionic energy conversion, thermionics timeline, design principles, testing components, and applications in various fields. The course teaches skills such as analyzing work functions, barrier index, microfabrication, and computational simulations. The teaching method includes lectures on theoretical concepts, practical design examples, and case studies. The intended audience for this course includes students, researchers, and professionals interested in advanced energy conversion technologies.
Overview
Syllabus
Introduction.
Thermionic Energy Converter.
Thermionics Timeline: The Early Days.
A Cold War Application: Space Power.
Thermionic Converter Design Cathode work function sets hot-side temperature.
Barrier Index: a critical parameter.
Microfabricated Thermionic Converters?.
Standard MEMS Thermal Isolation Design.
A Pixelated Suspended Cathode.
Nano-Gap Heat Transfer.
Testing Thermionic Components.
Mixed Alkali Earth Oxide Coatings Lower the Work Function of Tungsten.
Density Functional Theory (DFT) Simulations of Work Function and Formation Energy.
Computation of Thermionic Emission Current from First Principles using DFT.
Work Functions for Cathodes and Anodes.
Topping Cycles for Fossil-Fuel Power Plants: Themoelectronic Triodes.
A 21st Century Application for TEC: Concentrated Solar Thermal Power.
Photon-Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE) Energy Diagram.
Tandem Solar Thermal Cycle.
Spark Thermionics @ Cyclotron Road.
Taught by
Stanford Online
