A theoretical analysis of the efficiency of a magnetic triode thermionic converter is presented, and expressions for maximum obtainable efficiencies at given emitter temperature and collector work function are evaluated. A comparison with the thermionic vacuum diode efficiency shows similar efficiencies, but at considerably lower values of optimum current density for the triode.
REFERENCES
1.
G. N. Hatsopoulos, Sc.D. dissertation, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1956).
2.
J. A. Welsh, Sc.D. dissertation, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1959).
3.
Direct Conversion of Heat to Electricity, edited by J. Kaye and J. A. Welsh (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1960), Chap. 5.
4.
G. N. Hatsopoulos, J. Kaye, E. Langberg, Ref. 3, Chap. 4.
5.
6.
7.
The term “work function” in this paper means effective work function in the sense of the work “effective” explained by
E. B.
Hensley
, J. Appl. Phys.
32
, 301
(1961
).8.
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© 1964 The American Institute of Physics.
1964
The American Institute of Physics
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