Cogeneration with Thermionics and Electrochemical Cells

Abstract

Thermionic energy converters convert high-temperature heat into high-current low-voltage direct current, rejecting heat at a temperature that is high enough to generate process steam. Electrochemical cells are high-current low-voltage devices, which are ideally suited for coupling to the output of the thermionic converters. A test is under way in which an array of thermionic converters is coupled to a industrial heater. The array will be tested to yield thermionic performance data. These data will be used in the design of a thermionic cogeneration system specifically applied to the chlorine caustic soda industry. A full-scale cogeneration installation of this type is expected to produce about 12 kilowatts of direct current power for each million Btu fired.