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ELECTRICITY FOR NOTHING AND A FRIDGE FOR FREE! function (the force holding free electrons to a surface). Low work functions make getting into space (a vacuum) easier. A few of the most energetic electrons may have just sufficient kinetic energy to escape the work function and get to free space, exhausted—no kinetic energy left, absolute zero. The heat is converted into an emf, and the metal has become charged and wants to pull in an electron to regain neutrality. This, in micro-scale, is the second law being violated. Heat is totally converted into electricity. ELECTRICITY FOR NOTHING function (the force holding free external load at room temperature, so AND A FRIDGE FOR FREE! electrons to a surface). Low work heat runs down wires and radiates by Philip Hardcastle © July 2008 — functions make getting into space (a from the emitter to the collector, and vacuum) easier. the collector is force cooled— arely is there a free-energy A few of the most energetic extremely wasteful! Rive as simple as the electrons may have just sufficient | Can we have (1) room-temperature proposed Rotating Thermionic kinetic energy to escape the work conversion, (2) without an exhaust? Generator (RTG). Yet it is nothing function and get to free space, As for (1), we need a work function of more than a combination of accepted exhausted—no kinetic energy left, 0.15 electronvolts (eV) (see table 1), facts of physics; only the gestalt of the absolute zero. The heat is converted but no such material exists; as for (2), facts in combination is controversial. into an emf, and the metal has become conventional thermionics says we The world is in dire straits and charged and wants to pull in an must have an exhaust. needs a solution. By logic and _ electron to regain neutrality. This,in Do we need a_ temperature imagination I've stumbled upon a_ micro-scale, is the second law being difference? Consider a thermionic method to produce electricity from violated. Heat is totally converted circuit without one. A thermionic heat without the need for a heat sink into electricity. generator in complete circuit form has (an exhaust). With no heat sink, all a thermionic gap and an external heat, even the heat in ambient air, can A new take on thermionics electrical circuit involving metal be converted to electricity. The | Aconventional thermionic generator conductors and electrical junctions secondary benefit is that you also get has a heat source and a heat sink. The (junctions of different metals are refrigeration. difference in temperature governs the called "thermocouples"). Here we Heat-to-power technologies have theoretical maximum efficiency. It have a split ring in an isothermal bath low efficiency (5—20%) and are has an emitter, a collector and an (one temperature) (figure 1). At the uneconomical. The second law of external circuit (load). The emitter is top is a thermionic gap; at the bottom thermodynamics is the speed limit—a heated by an energy source; the isa thermo-electric junction. The left- law I was taught to respect, but... In collector is force cooled. (As hand material has low work function; this hypothesis, hard facts and logic collectors need to be hundreds of _ the right-hand material has high work collide head on with the second law. I degrees cooler than emitters, generator function. tried to find a flaw; I asked experts. efficiency is typically less than 15%. At a given temperature, some Maybe there is no flaw! I hope this Emitters operate at 2,000+ K; electrons escape the low work generates worldwide debate that collectors at 1,500 K.) function but none escapes the high causes governments to act swiftly. The metal plates (electrodes, work function, so a minute emf is emitter, collector) are connected to an created. Developing the hypothesis I thought about a metal surface and : . Table 1. Work Function and Thermionic Current per m’ at Room Temperature a free electron just energetic enough to escape from that surface, and of the | Work Function Electrons (amps/m’) Power in Watts Suitability resulting 100% conversion of its heat 1.0 eV 0.000000000001 + 0.000000000001 No practical use (kinetic energy) to emf (electromotive force, voltage). Free electrons on a O5 ey Owe (ye Prlzmsielle| gon metal's surface have an average 0.4 eV 2 0.8 Mobile phone velocity of 100,000 metres per second 0.3 eV 98 29 Laptop power (m/s) at 300 K (room temperature). 0.2 eV 4,722 945 Caravan power This is an average velocity; a few are 0.15eV 32,671 4,901 Household power much faster. At 300 K, a tiny number 0.1 eV 226,009 22,601 Office power of electrons escape per hour, dependent on the metal's work created. Developing the hypothesis I thought about a metal surface and a free electron just energetic enough to escape from that surface, and of the resulting 100% conversion of its heat (kinetic energy) to emf (electromotive force, voltage). Free electrons on a metal's surface have an average velocity of 100,000 metres per second (m/s) at 300 K (room temperature). This is an average velocity; a few are much faster. At 300 K, a tiny number of electrons escape per hour, dependent on the metal's work Suitability Power in Watts No practical use Hand-held game Mobile phone 1.0 eV 0.000000000001 0.000000000001 0.5 eV 0.04 0.02 0.4 eV 0.8 0.3 eV 29 98 0.2 eV 4,722 945 0.15 eV 32,671 4,901 Office power 0.1 eV 226,009 22,601 NEXUS ¢ 49 by Philip Hardcastle © July 2008 AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2008 www.nexusmagazine.com