Patent Number: 047553502
Section: claims

1. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly, comprising: (a) a source of heat;  (b) a plurality of emitter electrodes thermally coupled to and generally enclosed by the source of heat;  (c) a plurality of collector electrodes in a spaced relationship from and generally enclosed by the emitter electrodes; and,  (d) a heat sink generally enclosed by the collector electrodes.  (a) a source of heat;  (b) a plurality of emitter electrodes thermally coupled to and generally enclosed by the source of heat;  (c) a plurality of collector electrodes in a spaced relationship from and generally enclosed by the emitter electrodes;  (d) a heat sink generally enclosed by the collector electrodes;  (e) wherein the heat sink comprises a container of heat sink material; and,  (f) wherein the heat sink material comprises a lithium salt.  (a) a shource of heat;  (b) a plurality of emitter electrodes thermally coupled to and generally enclosed by the source of heat;  (c) a plurality of collector electrodes in a spaced relationship from and generally enclosed by the emitter electrodes;  (d) a heat sink generally enclosed by the collector electrodes;  (e) wherein the heat sink comprises a container of heat sink material; and,  (f) wherein the heat sink material comprises a neutron moderator.  (a) a source of heat;  (b) a plurality of emitter electrodes thermally coupled to and generally enclosed by the source of heat;  (c) a plurality of collector electrodes in a spaced relationship from and generally enclosed by the emitter electrodes; and,  (d) a heat sink generally enclosed by the collector electrodes.  (a) a source of heat;  (b) a plurality of emitter electrodes thermally coupled to and generally enclosed by the source of heat;  (c) a plurality of collector electrodes in a spaced relationship from and generally enclosed by the emitter electrodes; and,  (d) a heat sink generally enclosed by the collector electrodes.  (a) providing a source of heat;  (b) thermally coupling the heat source to a plurality of emitter electrodes generally enclosed by the source of heat;  (c) providing a plurality of collector electrodes in a spaced relationship from and generally enclosed by the emitter electrodes; and  (d) thermally coupling the collector electrodes to a heat sink generally enclosed by the collector electrodes. 2. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly according to claim 1, wherein the source of heat comprises fissionable material. 3. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a container of heat sink material. 4. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly comprising: 5. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly according to claim 4, wherein the lithium salt comprises lithium hydride. 6. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly comprising: 7. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly according to claim 6, wherein the heat sink material comprises lithium hydride enriched in the Li-7 isotope. 8. A thermionic energy conversion system assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a heat pipe, enclosed generally within the heat sink material, for transferring heat out of the heat sink material. 9. A thermionic energy conversion system module, comprising a plurality of stacked thermionic conversion system assemblies, each assembly comprising: 10. A thermionic energy conversion system module according to claim 9, wherein the heat sinks are generally continuous from assembly to assembly. 11. A thermionic energy conversion system module according to claim 10, wherein the heat sinks comprise a container of heat sink material, and further comprise a heat pipe, enclosed generally within the heat sink material, for transferring heat out of the heat sink material. 12. A thermionic nuclear reactor, comprising an array of thermionic energy conversion system modules, each module comprising a plurality of stacked thermionic conversion system assemblies, each assembly comprising: 13. A thermionic nuclear reactor according to claim 12, wherein each heat sink comprises a container of heat sink material, and each module further comprises a heat pipe, enclosed generally within the heat sink material, for transferring heat out of the heat sink material. 14. A method of converting heat energy to electrical energy, comprising the steps of: 15. The method of converting heat energy to electrical energy according to claim 14, further comprising the step of removing heat from the heat sink with a heat pipe.