Lightweight, compact power generation using thermionic energy conversion

Spark is developing transformative heat-to-electricity conversion devices based on thermionic energy conversion. Thermionic energy conversion has the potential to leapfrog competing solid-state conversion in efficiency and power density, but has been largely neglected for decades. Among thermal energy conversion approaches, thermionic energy conversion is uniquely positioned due to its 1) very high temperature (>1000°C) and 2) very high power density (~100kW/m^2 electrical output, ~1MW/m^2 thermal). Within Air Force needs, we have identified two applications that take advantage of this highly power dense, lightweight technology: 1) high temperature waste heat recovery in hypersonic vehicles, 2) as a fuel-based "battery" that can run on any fuel, such as propane or JP-8, particularly for small UAVs. Our primary goal as part of this Phase I award is to meet stakeholders and decision makers within the Air Force to begin demonstration and pilot projects in these applications.