TY - GEN
T1 - High performance photo-thermionic solar converters
AU - Segev, Gideon
AU - Kribus, Abraham
AU - Rosenwaks, Yossi
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - A new class of solar energy converters is described, based on photon-enhanced thermionic emission of electrons into a vacuum region between two electrodes. In contrast to conventional thermionic converters, the two electrodes are at the same temperature, and the cathode is side-illuminated rather than front-illuminated. This configuration leads to several advantages: close coupling of multiple units in a series connection high-voltage configuration; higher area for electron emission; and recovery of waste heat at a higher temperature compared to heat recovery from the anode of a conventional thermionic converter. The conversion efficiency from solar radiation to electricity of the new photo-thermionic device may be in the range of 30-40% at moderate operation temperatures and moderate concentration of the incident sunlight.
AB - A new class of solar energy converters is described, based on photon-enhanced thermionic emission of electrons into a vacuum region between two electrodes. In contrast to conventional thermionic converters, the two electrodes are at the same temperature, and the cathode is side-illuminated rather than front-illuminated. This configuration leads to several advantages: close coupling of multiple units in a series connection high-voltage configuration; higher area for electron emission; and recovery of waste heat at a higher temperature compared to heat recovery from the anode of a conventional thermionic converter. The conversion efficiency from solar radiation to electricity of the new photo-thermionic device may be in the range of 30-40% at moderate operation temperatures and moderate concentration of the incident sunlight.
KW - Photo Thermionic Emission
KW - Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission
KW - Thermionic emission
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871978070&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/EEEI.2012.6376926
DO - 10.1109/EEEI.2012.6376926
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AN - SCOPUS:84871978070
SN - 9781467346801
T3 - 2012 IEEE 27th Convention of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Israel, IEEEI 2012
BT - 2012 IEEE 27th Convention of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Israel, IEEEI 2012
T2 - 2012 IEEE 27th Convention of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Israel, IEEEI 2012
Y2 - 14 November 2012 through 17 November 2012
ER -