A theoretical study on solar thermionic (thermo electronic) power conversion with a parabolic concentrator

Abstract

In this paper Part I we consider the detailed energy dynamics of a thermionic converter heated by solar energy concentrated by a parabolic mirror and compute the total output power for different solar insolation, height of emitter, reflectivity of parabolic mirror, assuming no space charge effect initially. Our theoretical investigation gives for the first time the dependence of the output electric power on height h of the emitter from the base of the parabolic concentrator. The investigation discusses many novel ways the space-charge problem can be tackled and shows method of calculation of efficiencies which is also found to be dependent on solar insolation. Part II of the paper considers in details the effect of space charge on above calculations and the extent of space charge reduction following the novel ways such as gate, magnetic field etc.