This patent application claims the benefit of an earlier filed foreign application, LT2021-570 filed Nov. 5, 2021. The above application is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a field of thermal energy generation by electric component. In particular, the invention relates to a device and a method for obtaining thermal energy for heating end consumers and for reverse conversion using thermoelectric generators into electrical energy from electric voltage driven heat source in particular an electronics component.
A common thermal energy source for end consumer heating application is an electric heating element operating on the principle of a resistive heating, occurring whenever an electric current flows through a material that has some resistance Ω. The heat corresponds to the work done by the charge carriers in order to travel to a lower potential φ.
A U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/731,190 (publication No. US20080240689A1) discloses a space heater having an electrical resistance heating element, radiating heat when an electric current flows through the resistive element. Main disadvantage of such heating element is that it requires a considerable amount of electrical energy to power it and the efficiency of conversion of electrical energy into heat energy is very low.
Thermal energy can also be produced in power switch devices such as triodes, tetrodes, pentodes, etc. Further devices may be manufactures employing working principles of the aforementioned. Such devices are for example thyratrons, based on working principles of triodes, tetrodes and pentodes. The triodes, tetrodes and pentodes are vacuum tubes, filled with gas used for low voltage switching applications, thyratrons are vacuum devices also filled with gas but intended for high voltage switching applications. A common thyratron is disclosed in scientific publication Design and Simulation of Thyratron Switch Using for Pulse Forming Network by Hooman Mohammadi Moghadam, Conference: 4th National Conference on Applied Research in Electrical and Computer Science and Medical Engineering At: Shirvan. Thyratrons may be filled with hydrogen. The hydrogen thyratron may be used as a power switch that tolerates high voltage and current in the linear accelerator modulator. The thyratron switch based on a triode consists of three main parts: anode, cathode, grid, which can be switched on and off by using a proper grid voltage. Hydrogen gas is used because it is more durable and is more tolerable to voltage than other gases, commonly used in vacuum-type switching devices.
Commonly for all power switching devices in common application in electronics a characteristic effect called dynatron effect may occur. This effect causes the power switching devices to generate harmful excessive heat. The heat is undesirable and the power switching devices are manufactured and operated so that to avoid causing the dynatron effect. The dynatron effect is characterized by transfer of secondary emission electrons from anode to a third electrode, called a grid. Bombarding the anode with high-energy electrons, emitted from cathode after heating the cathode, knocks out secondary emission electrons from the anode. If, at the same time, potential of the grid exceeds potential of the anode, then the secondary electrons emitted from the anode do not return to the anode but are attracted to the grid. The electric current in the anode decreases, the current in the grid electrode increases producing excessive heating which has a negative effect on the components of the vacuum lamp and surrounding electronic components. To prevent secondary emission, a high supply voltage is necessary in the dynatron region. In all conventional electro-vacuum devices, the dynatron effect is structurally suppressed and considered harmful.
The disclosed invention does not have the disadvantage of low conversion efficiency of conversion of electrical energy to heat energy.
Method for generation of heat energy comprises proving a housing and providing within the housing a chamber comprising a first electrode an anode, having a positively charged first part. The chamber further comprises at least part of a negatively charged electrode, called a cathode, at least a positively charged grid electrode and optionally a negatively charged grid electrode. The housing is a vacuum type sealed housing comprising hydrogen gas in the chamber of the housing. Preferably, hydrogen gas is present in the chamber at the proportion of 1-10% of the total volume of the chamber.
When the cathode is heated by direct heating or indirect heating, electrons are emitted from the first part of the anode through the hydrogen filled chamber of the housing.
The first part of the anode and the positively charged grid are made of a refractory material such as of molybdenum, tungsten, or other similar materials, since the dynatron effect is promoted and strong heating of the anode for carrying out the method occurs. When the device is operating the anode can be heated up to 1000-2000 C.° degrees and above, and the conversion of electrical energy into heat is approaching 100%.
Features of the invention believed to be novel and inventive are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes exemplary embodiments, given in non-restrictive examples, of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described herein below with reference to the drawings. Each figure contains the same numbering for the same or equivalent element.
It should be understood that numerous specific details are presented in order to provide a complete and comprehensible description of the invention embodiment. However, the person skilled in art will understand that the embodiment examples do not limit the application of the invention which can be implemented without these specific instructions. Well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail for the embodiment to avoid misleading. Furthermore, this description should not be considered to be constraining the invention to given embodiment examples but only as one of possible implementations of the invention.
The heat generator (HG) according to the invention comprises a container (1); an anode (2), having positively charged first part (2.1), which is a heat generating part and is disposed in a hydrogen gas comprising chamber (8), and a second part (2.2), which is heat dissipation to the outside of the container (1) means; a negatively charged electrode (3), called a cathode (3), at least partially disposed in a hydrogen gas comprising chamber (8); an optional cathode heater (4), used when the cathode (3) is a direct heating filament; an optional negatively charged grid (5) for accelerating electrons from a negatively charged electrode (3); a positively charged grid (6), having charge exceeding charge of the positively charged first part (2.1) of the anode (2). The container (1) comprises a tightly sealed container body (1) housing the first part (2.1) of the anode (2), at least part of the cathode (3), optionally the cathode's direct heater (4), when the cathode (3) is a direct heating filament, optionally the negatively charged grid (5), the positively charged grid (6) in a tightly sealed hydrogen gas filled chamber (8) of the container (1).
In all embodiments of the invention, the cathode (3) may be implemented as a direct heating filament, in which case the cathode's direct heater (4) is present in the container (1) for heating the cathode (3). Thus, the direct heater (4) of the cathode (3) is optional. The cathode (3) may also be implemented as an indirect heating cathode (3), in which case the direct heater (4) is omitted. In all embodiments of the invention the cathode (3) is a heatable cathode (3).
In all embodiments of the invention the first part (2.1) of the anode (2), the cathode (3), the optional cathode's direct heater (4), used when the cathode (3) is direct heating filament, the positively charged grid (6) and the optional negatively charged grid (5) each comprise nodes (not shown) for connecting to electrical circuit of the heat generator (HG) for control of operation of the first part (2.1) of the anode (2), the cathode (3), the optional cathode heater (4), the positively charged grid (6) and the optional negatively charged grid (5). The nodes are preferably disposed on the outside of the container (1) and are electrically connected with the respective electrodes (2.1, 3, 4, 5, 6).
In all embodiments of the invention the anode (2) is disposed so that the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) is at last partially disposed in the chamber (8) of the container (1) and the second part (2.2) which is means (2.2) for heat removal from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) to the outside of the container (1) is disposed on the outside of the container (1). The first part (2.1) and the second part (2.2) are interconnected so that heat generated by the first part (2.1) is fluidly transferred to the second part (2.2) and to the outside of the container (1).
When the entire container (1) is configured for immersion into a heat removing medium the heat is removed from entire outer surface (1.1) of the container (1) and the second part (2.2) of the anode (2). When the heat is removed only from the second part (2.2) of the anode the container (1) is insulated to prevent heat dissipation through the outer surface (1.1) of the container (1).
In embodiments of the invention where the container (1) has a body which is not essentially constituted of the anode (2) or the cathode (3), the body of the container (1) is preferably made of a metal or metal alloy with a high melting point, metal ceramics or ceramics. In such embodiments the body of the container (1) must withstand very high temperatures and not burn out or melt, as well as serve as secondarily heat removal means, since the container (1) may also heat up from the heat of the first part (2.1) of the of the anode (2) when the heat from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) is not sufficiently removed and the container (1) is allowed to heat up and serve as a secondary heat removal means for dissipating heat via outer surface (1.1) of the container (1).
In embodiments of the invention where the body of the container (1) is essentially constituted of the anode (2) or the cathode (3), the hydrogen gas is contained in a chamber (8) delimited by inner surface of respectively the anode (2) or the cathode (3).
The optional negatively charged grid (5) is situated between the cathode (3) and the positively charged grid (6), wherein the positively charged grid (6) is situated between the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) and the negatively charged grid (5). The negatively charged grid can take a neutral value or be positive charge value to enhance operation of the heat generator (HG).
Hydrogen gas is present in the chamber (8). The hydrogen is one of the most important initiators of the heat generation process. Preferably, hydrogen gas is present in the chamber (8) at the proportion of 1-10% of the total volume of the chamber (8). If greater part of the volume or entire volume is filled with hydrogen, then harmful effect, such as a hydrogen explosion from a spark or an arc discharge in hydrogen according to the principle of a thyratron will take place.
The first part (2.1) of the anode (2) and the positive grid (6), and the optional negative grid (5) are made of a refractory material such as molybdenum, tungsten, or other similar materials, for working in strong excessive heating conditions inside the chamber (8) of the container (1). The main excessive heat source is the first part (2.1) of the anode (2). Preferably, the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) is made of molybdenum, the cathode (3) and the grids (5, 6) are made of tungsten.
The first part (2.1) of the anode (2) and the cathode (3) are coated with material that promotes increased electron yield to enhance electron emission from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2), the secondary electron emission (SEE), and the cathode (3), the primary electron emission (PEE). Preferably the coating material is an oxide such as zirconium oxide, thorium oxide, barium oxide.
During operation of the heat generator (HG) the cathode (3) is heated directly by the heater (4) or indirectly. Heating of the cathode (3) prompts release of electrons (PEE) from the cathode (3) in the direction of the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) in the medium of hydrogen gas. After the electrons (PEE) are released from the cathode (3) they are optionally accelerated forwards by a negatively charged grid (5). After the electrons (PEE) passes the optional negatively charged grid (5), high-energy electrons (PEE) pass a positively charged grid (6) and knocks out secondary emission electrons (SEE) from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2). When the optional negatively charged grid (5) is not disposed in the chamber (8), the primary electrons (PEE) from the cathode (3) pass the positively charged grid (6) and knocks out secondary emission electrons (SEE) from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2).
To promote secondary emission of electrons (SEE) from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) the positively charged grid (6) has positive potential greatly exceeding positive potential of the first part (2.1) of the anode (2). The secondary emission electrons (SEE) emitted from the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) do not return to the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) but are attracted to the positively charged grid (6). Electric current in the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) increases, producing excessive heating. Preferably, the positive potential of the positively charged grid (6) should exceed the positive potential on the first part (2.1) of the anode (2) by 50-100% or greater percentage.
The heat generator (HG) constantly operating in excessive heat generation mode, i.e., in dynatron effect mode, causes maximum secondary electron emission (SEE) and subsequently maximum conversion of the supplied electric energy into heat energy. The first part (2.1) of the anode (2), as the main source of generated heat, can heat up to 1000-2000 C.° or more and the conversion of electrical energy into heat is approaching 100%.
The operation of the heat generator (HG) is controlled by controlling voltage at the cathode (3) and at the positive grid (6) and/or negative grid (5), the principle is the same as for controlling a conventional triode, when only positive grid (6) is used, or tetrode, when negative and positive grid (5, 6) are used.
The generated heat from the primary heat source, the first part (2.1) of the anode (2), is transferred to for space heating purposes, thermoelectric energy generation or alike.
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In all examples of applications of embodiments of the invention the heat removal means (7), for removing heat from the heat generator (HG), comprises a fluid medium and fluid flow inducing means, where the fluid medium is a liquid or gas which is being forced to flow by a flow inducing means and thus cool down the second part (2.2) of the anode (2) and the outside surface (1.1) of the container (1).
In all embodiments of the invention, where each of the anode (2), the cathode (3), the positively charged grid (6) and the negatively charged grid (5) are shaped as elongated hollow cylindrical body, they are shaped as elongated hollow open-ended cylindrical bodies. In embodiments where anode (2) or the cathode (3) are shaped as elongated hollow cylindrical body and essentially constitute the body of the container (1), respectively the anode (2) and the cathode (3) are closed-ended to form a sealed container (1) body.
Although numerous characteristics and advantages together with structural details and features have been listed in the present description of the invention, the description is provided as an example fulfilment of the invention. Without departing from the principles of the invention, there may be changes in the details, especially in the form, size and layout, in accordance with most widely understood meanings of the concepts and definitions used in claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021570 | Nov 2021 | LT | national |