Class 376/321 - Thermionic

Subclass of Class 376 - Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Definition: Subject matter wherein the one-step includes the heating
No. of patents: 29
Last issue date: 12/11/2007

Number	Title	Issue Date
7305839	Thermal transfer device and system and method incorporating same A thermal transfer device having a first substrate layer, a second substrate layer and first and second electrodes disposed between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer. The thermal transfer device also includes a release layer disposed between t...	12/11/2007
7260939	Thermal transfer device and system and method incorporating same A method of manufacturing a thermal transfer device including providing first and second thermally conductive substrates that are substantially atomically flat, providing a patterned electrical barrier having a plurality of closed shapes on the first thermally condu...	08/28/2007
7129616	Thermionic electric converter A thermionic electric converter includes a cathode output enhancing laser (374) operable to direct a laser beam (376) to strike an emissive surface of a cathode emitter (321), to increase the electron output of the cathode emitter (321). ...	10/31/2006
6906449	Hybrid thermionic energy converter and method The present invention embodies a solid state thermionic energy converter and is directed to a method and apparatus for conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy, and electrical energy to refrigeration. The present invention maintains a thermal separation bet...	06/14/2005
6037697	Thermionic converter and method of making same A multiple cell thermionic converter having a generally tubular member of electrically conductive refractory metal with an internal cavity and a tubular envelope of electrically conductive refractory metal disposed in surrounding relationship to such gene...	03/14/2000
5608767	Neutron-activated direct current source A device for generating direct current by neutron activation of a plurality of series-connected beta-emitter (nuclear decay electron) cells, located in the out-of-core region of a light water nuclear reactor. The device can be used as either a current sou...	03/04/1997
5590162	Stand-alone power supply energized by decay of radioactive iostope A stand-alone low-voltage direct current power supply, for use as a battery, which is energized by the decay of a radioactive isotope in response to neutron capture. During this decay, either ଱- or ଲ-particles are emitted. The emitting radioac...	12/31/1996
5492570	Hybrid thermal electric generator The apparatus is a combined Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) and a thermionic energy converter which are mated by the use of a common heat transfer device which can be a heat pipe, pumped fluid or a simple heat conduction path. By adjust...	02/20/1996
5408510	Thermionic nuclear reactor with flux shielded components A hydrogenous moderated thermionic nuclear reactor operating in the thermal neutron energy region. Thermionic fuel elements are formed from multiple concentric cylinders. The center cylinder is a combination heat pipe and thermionic converter collector. T...	04/18/1995
5353321	Plasma thermoelement A plasma thermoelement which is built into the immediate volume of a nuclear fuel mass of a nuclear fuel element is described which comprises a snorkel (12) which is surrounded by a nuclear fuel mass (14) which in turn is surrounded by a cladding (16). Bo...	10/04/1994
5247548	Thermionic reactor A thermionic reactor for providing electrical power and propulsion power. A reactor vessel has a plurality of thermionic heat pipe modules located therein and spaced apart on a hexagonal pitch. Nuclear fuel elements are positioned in the spaces between th...	09/21/1993
5246505	System and method to improve the power output and longetivity of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator By using the helium generated by the alpha emissions of a thermoelectric generator during space travel for cooling, the thermal degradation of the thermoelectric generator can be slowed. Slowing degradation allows missions to be longer with little additio...	09/21/1993
5219516	Thermionic generator module with heat pipes A thermionic electric converter module integrated with heating and cooling heat pipes. Two heat pipes are arranged concentrically, with the annular emitter heat pipe on the outside of the module to isothermally distribute heat from a source located in any...	06/15/1993
5200141	Thermionic fuel element An improvement is set forth in a thermionic fuel element which includes a collector base supporting a collector adjacent and closely spaced from an emitter which is supported by an emitter base, the emitter base being adapted to be heated by a heat source...	04/06/1993
5149494	Protecting personnel and the environment from radioactive emissions by controlling such emissions and safely disposing of their energy An apparatus for protecting personnel and the environment from harmful emissions of radiation from a source thereof includes a plurality of shielding parts so located as to be in the path of the radioactive emissions and to absorb them (one such part bein...	09/22/1992
5122332	Protecting organisms and the environment from harmful radiation by controlling such radiation and safely disposing of its energy A radiation gradient is utilized to transform harmful radiant energy into safer, more useful forms, thus collecting, controlling and consuming the energies of radiant emissions and protecting the environment and living organisms from them. More specifical...	06/16/1992
5039475	Thermionic fuel element pressure vessel A pressure vessel for nuclear energy powered thermionic fuel elements is disclosed. An inner cylindrical nuclear fuel heat source is surrounded by cylindrical layers of, in outward order, an emitter, a gap, a collector, an insulator and a cladding layer. ...	08/13/1991
4927599	Thermionic converter emitter support arrangement A support is provided for use in a therminonic converter to support an end of an emitter to keep it out of contact with a surrounding collector while allowing the emitter end to move axially as its temperature changes. The emitter end (34) is supported by...	05/22/1990
4880596	Thermionic switched self-actuating reactor shutdown system A self-actuating reactor shutdown system incorporating a thermionic switched electromagnetic latch arrangement which is responsive to reactor neutron flux changes and to reactor coolant temperature changes. The system is self-actuating in that the sensing...	11/14/1989
4770845	Self-actuating reactor shutdown system A control system for the automatic or self-actuated shutdown or "scram" of a nuclear reactor. The system is capable of initiating scram insertion by a signal from the plant protection system or by independent action directly sensing reactor conditions of ...	09/13/1988
4755350	Thermionic reactor module with thermal storage reservoir A thermionic energy conversion system assembly is described which comprises a fissionable nuclear fuel which surrounds a cylindrical arrangement of thermionic emitter electrodes which surround corresponding collector electrodes, which in turn surround a c...	07/05/1988
4747998	Thermally actuated thermionic switch A thermally actuated thermionic switch which responds to an increase of temperature by changing from a high impedance to a low impedance at a predictable temperature set point. The switch has a bistable operation mode switching only on temperature increas...	05/31/1988
4505876	Nuclear heated and powered metal excimer laser A laser using heat and thermionic electrical output from a nuclear reactor in which heat generated by the reactor is utilized to vaporize metal lasants. Voltage output from a thermionic converter is used to create an electric discharge in the metal vapors...	03/19/1985
4362564	Method for producing microporous metal bodies Tungsten is vapor-deposited by hydrogen reduction of tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) to produce a tungsten body having from 40 to 100 ppm fluorine. The tungsten is then heated under vacuum to produce grain boundary porosity for a sufficient period ...	12/07/1982
4323808	Laser excited thermionic electric converter A laser excited thermionic electric converter is disclosed wherein an externally located heat source causes electrons to be boiled off an electron emissive surface interiorly positioned on one end wall of an evacuated cylindrical chamber. A grid having a ...	04/06/1982
4163689	Vented nuclear fuel element A nuclear fuel cell for use in a thermionic nuclear reactor in which a small conduit extends from the outside surface of the emitter to the center of the fuel mass of the emitter body to permit escape of volatile and gaseous fission products collected in ...	08/07/1979
4085004	Control for nuclear thermionic power source A control for a power source which includes nuclear fuel interspersed with thermionic converters, including a power regulator that maintains a substantially constant output voltage to a variable load, and a control circuit that drives a neutron flux regul...	04/18/1978
4040903	Thermionic energy converters A thermionic device for converting nuclear energy into electrical energy comprising a tubular anode spaced from and surrounding a cylindrical cathode, the cathode having an outer emitting surface of ruthenium, and nuclear fuel on the inner cylindrical sur...	08/09/1977
4008407	Nuclear thermionic converter A thermionic converter unit for use in a nuclear reactor to generate current, which can be constructed at low cost and which efficiently utilizes the nuclear fuel. The reactor utilizes an array of thermionic emitters whose peripheries are fluted so that a...	02/15/1977

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Class 376/321 - Thermionic