Tunnel-Effect Power Converter Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tunnel-effect power converters have limitations in power conversion efficiency, which hinders their performance in effectively converting heat into electric power.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates protrusions on the electrodes, specifically point-shaped protrusions with controlled height and spacing, to enhance electron transport through thermionic emission and tunnel effect, increasing the local electric field and thus improving conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If planar electrodes are used in tunnel-effect power converters, then the device structure is simple, but the power conversion efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating point-shaped protrusions at specific locations on the electrode surfaces. These protrusions concentrate the electric field and enhance thermionic emission locally, rather than uniformly across the entire electrode surface. This localized modification significantly improves electron transport and power conversion efficiency while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs spheroidality by using point-shaped (curved) protrusions instead of flat planar surfaces. The curved geometry of the protrusions creates field enhancement effects that improve electron emission and tunneling probability, directly addressing the low efficiency problem of planar electrodes while adding minimal structural complexity.
2Productivity
If protrusions are added to electrodes to enhance electron transport, then power conversion efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by adding protrusions only to specific regions of the electrode surfaces rather than modifying the entire surface. The protrusions are positioned to face each other across the gap, creating optimized electron transport paths without requiring complete surface modification. This partial modification achieves significant efficiency improvement with limited added complexity.
3Productivity
If the distance between opposite electrode surfaces is reduced to enhance tunnel effect, then electron transport improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating localized point-shaped protrusions that face each other across the electrode gap. This localization concentrates the tunneling effect to specific points rather than requiring uniform distance control across large surface areas. The point contacts naturally define the critical gap distance, reducing the burden on manufacturing precision while maintaining high electron transport efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly enhances the power conversion efficiency, achieving up to 600 times greater efficiency compared to traditional planar-electrode converters, by increasing the electron flow and electric current generation.
Implementation Method 1
By thermionic barrier effect, electrons are extracted from hot electrode 3 and cross the potential barrier which separates them from cold electrode 5
Implementation Method 2
The short distance separating opposite electrode surfaces makes the electron transport from electrode 3 to electrode 5 by tunnel effect easier
Data Source
AI summary
A tunnel-effect power converter including first and second electrodes having opposite surfaces, wherein the first electrode includes protrusions extending towards the second electrode.