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Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport Patent Title Thermoionic converter. Ref. CNR 10221 Assignee(s): CNR CNR Institute: INSEAN Main Inventor: Massimo Adriani Countries: IT, EP, US Priority date: 20/08/2012 Abstract The present invention refers to a device for the generation of electricity from concentration solar source and cogeneration of hot water at low temperature, for single user systems or production plants in linear arrays. Compared to the thermionic solar converter (ref. CNR 10268), the production of an axial magnetic field generated by the conversion current produced by the particular shape of the cathode and of the suspension of the cathode itself is achieved. This change may lead to the elimination of deflection grids in the thermoionic solar converter, eliminating the losses due to the grids. Background The current thermionic converters exhibit very low efficiency due to heat losses due to high operating temperatures. This device solves this problem by using measures to contain the thermal leakages, both internal and external. This allows to increase the operating temperatures and the Δt to the maximum levels tolerated by refractory materials and therefore the efficiency. Technology Cathode for a thermionic converter in which the conversion current, that passes through the cathode, generates an axial magnetic field useful for the deflection of electrons from the same cathode to the anodes ­ that are placed parallel to the cathode ­ without additional components. Also, the shielding achieves an expansion and a containment chamber of the electrons. Advantages and Applications It’s possible to eliminate the deflection grids required in previous devices and losses due to the grids' polarization. This device is applicable in systems of generation of energy from concentrating solar power, both for individual users and for production facilities. Development stage The inventions doesn’t have a prototipe yet. 63