Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An electron generating panel comprising:an outer sheathing of a low Z metal which forms an outer housing around the electron generating panel;an electron generator comprising a high Z metal disposed within the sheathing and forming an emitter with a positive output pin extending through the sheathing, electrically insulated from the sheathing;an electron charge collector comprising a low Z metal disposed between the emitter and the sheathing on a side of the emitter, with a negative output pin extending through the sheathing and the collector, electrically insulated from the sheathing and, spaced and electrically insulated from the positive output pin;a first layer of insulation material occupying spaces between the emitter and the collector; anda second layer of insulation material occupying spaces between the sheathing and the collector. 2. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the high Z metal comprises Lead or Tungsten. 3. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the low Z metal comprises Inconel or Steel alloy. 4. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the layer of insulation comprises aluminum oxide or boron-10. 5. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the layer of insulation surrounding the emitter is a cylinder approximately 1 mm thick. 6. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the electron generating panel is positioned between an outer perimeter of a nuclear reactor core comprising a plurality of fuel assemblies and a structural member surrounding the plurality of fuel assemblies. 7. The electron generating panel of claim 6 wherein the structural member is a baffle-former plate structure, wherein a baffle-former plate structure comprises a baffle plate attached to a former plate and the electron generating panel is fastened to the baffle plate of the baffle-former plate structure surrounding the core. 8. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the electron generating panel is approximately 3 mm thick. 9. The electron generating panel of claim 1 further comprising a layer of cobalt-59 between the sheathing and the emitter on a side of the emitter opposite that of the collector with the first layer of insulation material extending around the emitter to between the cobalt-59 and the emitter and the second layer of insulation material extending around the collector and the cobalt-59 to between the sheathing and the cobalt-59. 10. The electron generating panel of claim 1 wherein the collector spans opposite sides of the emitter with the sides of the collector on opposite sides of the emitter in electrical communication with each other. 11. The electron generating panel of claim 10 wherein the collector is a cylinder that surrounds the emitter. 12. The electron generating panel of claim 10 is supported on a wall of a fuel assembly cell of a modular fuel rack.