MXPA99006659A - Improved thermionic electric converters - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved thermionic electric converter (200) uses a wire grid cathode (220) to provide a larger surface area for electrons to boil off. Alternately or additionally, the larger electron emission surface area can be achieved by using a curved electron emission surface. A laser (242) provides quantum inteference to electrons just before they reach the anode, thereby lowering their energy levels such that they more readily are captured by the anode (206). The arrangement provides improved conversion efficiency and reduced electron scatter.

Description

IMPROVED TERMIONIC ELECTRICAL CONVERTERS Field of the Invention The present invention is generally concerned with the field of converting thermal energy directly to electrical power. More particularly, an improved electric ionic converter is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Up to now, thermionic converters such as those shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,519,854, 3,328,611, 4,303,845, 4,323,808 and 5,459,367 (all issued to the inventor of the present invention and all incorporated herein by reference) have been known. describe various apparatuses and methods for the direct conversion of thermal energy to electric power. In U.S. Patent No. 3,519,854, a converter is described which uses Hall effect techniques as the means of collecting the output current. The 854 patent teaches the use of a stream of electrons emitted from a emitting cathode surface as the source of electrons. The electrons are accelerated to a positive anode beyond the Hall effect transducer. The anode of the? 854 patent consists of a simple metal plate having a highly statically charged element that surrounds the plate and isolates it from it.

REF.-. 30625 U.S. Patent No. 3,328,611 discloses a spherically configured thermionic converter wherein a spherical emitter cathode is supplied with heat to thereby emit electrons to a spherical anode positioned concentrically under the influence of a control element and having a high positive potential on the same and isolated from it. Similar to the? 854 patent, the anode of the? 611 patent is simply a metallic surface. U.S. Patent No. 4,303,845 describes a thermionic converter in which the electron current of the cathode passes through an air core induction coil, located within a transverse magnetic field, to thereby generate an electromotive force (EMF) in the induction coil through the interaction of the electron current with the transverse magnetic field. The anode of the? 845 patent also comprises a metal plate having a highly statically charged element which surrounds the plate and isolates it therefrom. U.S. Patent No. 4,323,808 describes a laser excited thermionic converter which is very similar to the thermionic converter described in the '845 patent. The main difference is that the' 808 patent describes the use of a laser which is applied to a grid on which the electrons are collected at the same time as the grid potential is removed, to create electron boluses that are accelerated to the anode through an air core induction coil, located within a transverse magnetic field. The anode of the patent? 808 is the same as that described in the? 845 patent, that is, simply a metal plate having a highly statically charged element that surrounds the plate and isolates it therefrom. U.S. Patent 5,459,367 advantageously utilizes an improved collector element with an anode having copper wool fibers and copper sulfate gel in place of a metal plate. Additionally, the collector element has a highly charged element (ie, static electricity) that surrounds the anode and isolates it from it. Another design of the prior art has an anode and cathode that are relatively close together, such as separated by a distance of two microns within a vacuum chamber. Such a design of the prior art does not use an attractive force to attract the electrons emitted from the cathode to the anode more than the induction of cesium to the envelope of the chamber which houses the anode and the cathode. Cesium covers the anode with a positive charge to keep the electrons flowing. With the cathode and the anode so closely close it is difficult to maintain the cathode and anode temperatures at substantially different temperatures. For example, it is expected to have normally the cathode at a temperature of 1800 degrees Kelvin and the anode at 800 degrees Kelvin. A heat source is provided to heat the cathode and a cooling circulation system is provided at the anode in order to maintain it at the desired temperature. Although the chamber is maintained at a vacuum (different from the cesium source) the heat from the cathode advances to the anode and takes a significant amount of energy to maintain the high temperature differential between the cathode and the anode closely spaced. This in turn substantially decreases the efficiency of the system.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved thermionic electrical converter. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a thermionic electrical converter with improved conversion efficiency. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cathode for a thermionic electrical converter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermionic electrical converter having the cathode and anode significantly separated such that they are thermally insulated from each other. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a thermionic electrical converter wherein the energy can be withdrawn or separated from the electrons just before they strike the anode. The foregoing and other objects of the present invention that will become apparent as the description proceeds are made by a thermionic electrical converter having a wrapping or wrapping element, a cathode within the operable shell element when heated to serve as a source of electrons and an anode within the envelope element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode. The cathode consists of a grid of wires, which has wires that advance in at least two directions that are transverse to each other. A first charged focusing ring is located in the envelope element between the cathode and the anode and is operable to direct the electrons emitted by the cathode through the first focusing ring on its way to the anode. A second charged focusing ring is located in the envelope element, between the first focusing ring and the anode and is operable to direct the electrons emitted by the cathode through the second focusing ring on its way to the anode. Additional focus rings may be necessary. The cathode is preferably separated from the anode by a distance of 4 microns to five centimeters. More preferably, the cathode is separated from the anode by a distance of one to three centimeters. A laser is operable to strike electrons (that is, to apply a laser beam to electrons) between the cathode and the anode. The laser collides with the electrons just before they reach the anode. The laser is operable to provide quantum interference with the electrons, so that the electrons are more easily captured by the anode. The cathode wire grid preferably includes at least four layers of wires. In addition, each of the wire layers have wires that extend in a different direction from each other of the wire layers. The cathode wire grid thus includes wires that extend in at least four different directions. This is designed to greatly increase the emitting surface of the cathode. The present invention can alternatively be described as a thermionic electrical converter having a shell element, a cathode within the shell element operable when heated to serve as a source of electrons, an anode within the shell element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode and a operable laser to hit electrons between the cathode and the anode. Thus, the laser provides quantum interference with the electrons, in such a way that the electrons are more easily captured by the anode. The laser is operable to strike electrons just before they reach the anode. The laser is operable to strike electrons at a distance of 2 microns before they reach the anode. The cathode consists of a grid of wires having wires that advance in at least two directions that are transverse to each other. The cathode is separated from the anode by a distance of 4 microns to five centimeters. The present invention can alternatively be described as a thermionic electrical converter having a housing element, a cathode within the enclosing element operable when heated to serve as an electron source and an anode within the enclosing element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode and generally advancing along a direction of motion defining the direction of the cathode to the anode. The cathode has a flat cross-sectional area normal or perpendicular to the direction of motion, the cathode has a surface area of electron emission for the emission of electrons to the anode and the electron emission surface area is at least 30 times one hundred times greater than the flat cross-sectional area. The cathode consists of a grid of wires having wires that advance in at least two directions that are transverse to each other. Alternatively or additionally, the cathode is curved in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. A laser is operable to strike electrons between the cathode and the anode just before they reach the anode. Preferably, the electron emission surface area is at least twice the planar cross-sectional area. More preferably, the electron emission surface area is at least twice the flat cross-sectional area. The smaller the diameter of the wire, the greater the emitting area. This is an exponential relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in detail herein with reference to the following figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, and wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermionic electrical converter of the previous technique; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a laser excited thermionic electric converter of the prior art; Figure 3 is a side view with parts in cross section and schematic diagram of a thermionic electric converter according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a top view of a wire grid structure used for a cathode; Figure 5 is a side view of a part of the wire grid structure; Figure 6 is a side view of a portion of an alternative wire grid structure; Figure 7 is a side schematic diagram of multiple layers in a wire grid structure; and Figure 8 is a simplified side view of an alternative cathode structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show prior art thermionic electrical converters as shown and described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,303,845 and 4,323,808, respectively, both issued to Edwin D. Davis, the inventor of the invention. present invention, the descriptions of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. While the operation of both thermionic converters is described in detail in the incorporated patents, a summary of general operation is presented herein with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. This may provide useful background in the understanding of the present invention. Figure 1 shows a basic thermionic electric converter. Figure 2 shows a thermionic converter excited by laser. The operation of both converters is very similar. With reference to the figures, a basic thermionic electrical converter 10 is shown. The converter 10 has an elongated, cylindrically formed outer casing or casing 12, equipped with a pair of end walls 14 and 16, to thereby form a closed chamber 18. The casing 12 is made of any of a variety of electrically non-conductive materials strong, known such as, for example, plastics or ceramics resistant to high temperatures, while the end walls 14, 16 are metal plates to which electrical connections can be made. The elements are mechanically joined together and are hermetically sealed in such a way that the chamber 18 can withstand a vacuum and a moderately high electric potential can be applied and maintained through the end walls 14 and 16. The first end wall 14 contains a formed cathode region having an electron-emitting coating (not shown), disposed on its inner surface, while the second end wall 16 is formed as a slightly convex circular surface, which is first mounted on an insulating ring 21 to form an assembly, all of which are then coupled to the box 12. In service, the end walls 14 and 16 function respectively as the cathode terminal and the collector plate of the converter 10. Between these two walls, an electron stream 22 will flow substantially along the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical chamber 18, to originate in the region of the cathode 20 and ermine in the collection plate 16. An annular focusing element 24 is concentrically positioned within the chamber 18 at a site adjacent to the cathode 20. A deflecting element 26 is positioned concentrically within the chamber 18 at a site adjacent to the collector plate 16. Arranged between these two elements is an induction assembly 28 consisting of a helical induction coil 30 and an elongated annular magnet 32. The coil 30 and the magnet 32 are arranged concentrically within and occupy the central region of the chamber 18. Referring briefly to the schematic view of the end of Figure 2, one can see the relative radial positioning of the various elements and assemblies. For clarity of presentation, the mechanical retention elements for these internally located elements have not been included in any of the figures. The focusing element 24 is electrically connected by means of a conductor 34 and a hermetically sealed feed conduit 36 to an external source of static potential (not shown). The induction coil 30 is similarly connected by a pair of conductors 38 and 40 and a pair of supply conduits 42 and 44 to an external load element shown simply as a resistor 46. The potentials applied to the various elements are neither shown nor discussed explicitly in detail as they constitute conventional and well known means or elements for implementing related electron current devices. Briefly, when considering (conventionally) the region of the cathode 20 as a reference voltage level, a positive high static charge is applied to the collector plate 16 and the external circuit containing this voltage source is completed by connecting its negative side to the Cathode 20. This high positive static load applied causes the electron current 22 originating in the cathode region 20 to be accelerated towards the collector plate 16 with a quantity directly dependent on the magnitude of the high static load applied. The electrons collide on the collector plate 16 at a speed sufficient to cause a certain amount of bounce. The baffle 26 is configured and positioned to prevent these rebound electrons from reaching the main section of the converter and electrical connections (not shown) are applied thereto as required. A negative voltage from a low to moderate level is applied to the focusing element 24 to focus the electron stream 22 in a narrow beam. In operation, a heat source 48 (which could be derived from various sources, such as fossil fuel combustion, solar devices, atomic devices, atomic waste or heat exchangers from existing atomic operations) is used to heat the electron-emitting coating on the cathode 20 to thereby release amounts of electrons. The released electrons are focused in a narrow beam by the element 24 and are accelerated towards the collector plate 16. As they pass through the induction assembly 28, the electrons come under the influence of the magnetic field produced by the magnet 32 and execute a interactive movement that causes an electromotive force (EMF) to be induced in the turns or windings of the induction coil 30. Actually, this induced electromotive force is the sum of a larger number of individual electrons that execute small circular current circuits to develop by this a correspondingly large number of small electromotive forces in each winding of coil 30. Taken as a whole, the output voltage of the converter is proportional to the speed of the electrons in transit and the output current is dependent on the size and temperature of the electron source. The mechanism of induced electromotive force can be explained in terms of Lorentz forces acting on an electron that has an initial linear velocity as it enters a substantially uniform magnetic field disposed orthogonally to the velocity of the electron. In an appropriately configured device, there results a spiral path of the electron (not shown) that produces the desired net rate of change of flow as required by Faraday's law to produce an induced electromotive force (EMF). This electron spiral trajectory results from a combination of the linear translational trajectory (longitudinal) due to the acceleration action of the collector plate 16 and a circular (transverse) path due to the interaction of the initial velocity of the electron and the magnetic field cross section of the magnet 32. Depending on the relative magnitude of the high voltage applied to the collector plate 16 and the intensity and orientation of the magnetic field produced by the magnet 32, other mechanisms for producing a voltage directly in the induction coil 30 may be possible. The mechanism summarized above is suggested as an illustrative and is not considered as the only mode of operation available. However, all mechanisms would result from various combinations of the applicable Lorentz and Faraday considerations. The basic difference between the basic converter shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,303,845 and the laser-excited converter shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,323,808, is that the laser-excited converter collects electrons that are detached from the cathode surface on a grid. 176 having a small negative potential applied thereto, via a source of negative potential 178 by means of conductor 180 which traps the flow of electrons and mass of electrons. The electrical potential imposed on the grid is removed while the grid is simultaneously exposed to a laser pulse discharge from the laser assembly 170, 173, 174, 20 to cause electron balls 22 to be released. Then, the electron balls 22 are electrically focused and directed through the interior of the air core induction coils located within a transverse magnetic field, thereby generating an electromotive force in the induction coil which is applied to a external circuit to carry out work, as summarized above with respect to the basic thermionic converter. As summarized by the present inventor in U.S. Patent No. 5,459,367, there are numerous concurrent disadvantages usually associated with having a simply drawn pickup element of a conductive metal plate. Accordingly, the collection element of that design includes a conductive layer of copper sulfate gel impregnated with copper wool fibers. The present invention can use such an anode. However, the present invention can also utilize a conductive metal plate anode since other aspects of the present invention would minimize or avoid some of the advantages that such a plate anode could otherwise cause. Basically, then, the specific details of the anode are not essential to the preferred design of the present invention. Referring now to Figure 3, a thermionic electrical converter 200 according to the present invention includes a wrapper element 202 in which a vacuum would be maintained by a vacuum apparatus (not shown) in a known manner. The wrapping element 202 is preferably cylindrical about a central axis 202A that serves as an axis of symmetry of the element 202 and the components therein except where indicated otherwise. The collector 204 may include a circular plate 206 of flat anode (made of copper for example) surrounded by a statically charged ring 208 (charged at 100 Coulombs for example) having insulating rings 210 concentric therewith. The ring 208 and the rings 210 can be constructed and operable as discussed in the 5,459,367 patent. A cooling element 212 is thermally coupled to the plate 206 in such a way that the coolant from the source 214 is circulated therethrough by the cooling circuit 216. The cooling element 212 keeps the anode plate at a temperature desired. The cooling element 212 may alternatively be the same as the anode plate 206 (in other words, the refrigerant circulates through plate 206). A feedback array (not shown) using one or more detectors (not shown) could be used to stabilize the temperature of the anode 206. The cathode assembly 218 of the present invention includes a cathode 220 heated by a heat source, such that it emits electrons that move in general along the direction of movement 202A towards the anode 206. (As in the patent 5,459,367, the charged ring 208 helps attract the electrons towards the anode).

Although the heat source is shown as a heat source 222 of heating fluid (liquid or gas) flowing to the heating element 224 (which is thermally coupled to the cathode 220) via the heating circuit 226 power sources could be used alternatives such as a laser applied to the cathode 224. The energy introduced to the source 222 could be solar, laser, microwave or radioactive materials. In addition, used nuclear fuel that would otherwise simply be stored at a higher cost and without benefit could be used to provide heat to the source 222. The electrons energized at the Fermi level at the cathode 220 escape from the surface thereof and attract by the static charge ring 208 travel along the direction of movement 202A through first and second focusing rings or cylinders 228 and 230 which can be constructed and operated in a manner similar to the focusing element 24 of the arrangement of the previous technique discussed above. In order to help the electrons move in the proper direction, a shield 232 may surround the cathode 224. The shield 232 may be cylindrical or conical or as shown include a cylindrical portion closer to the cathode 224 and a conical portion in addition to the cathode 224. In any case, the shield tends to maintain the movement of electrons in the direction 202A. The electrons will tend to be repelled from the shield 232, since the shield will be at a relatively high temperature (from its proximity to the cathode 220 of relatively high temperature). Alternatively or in addition to being repelled by the high temperature of the shield, the shield 232 could have a negative charge applied thereto. In the latter case, insulation (not shown) could be used between the shield 232 and the cathode 220. The electrical energy produced corresponding to the electron flow of the cathode 220 to the anode 206 is fed via the wire 234 of the cathode and the wire 236 of the cathode. anode to an external circuit 238. Returning from the overall operation of the converter 200 to the specific advantageous aspects thereof, electrons such as the electron 240 tend to have a high energy level as they approach the anode 206. Accordingly, the normal tendency would be for some to bounce off the surface and not be caught in it. This normally results in an electron scattering and decreases the conversion efficiency of a converter. In order to avoid or greatly reduce this tendency, the present invention uses a laser 242 that strikes the electrons (for example, strikes them with a laser beam 244) before they strike the anode 206. Quantum interference between the photons 244 of the laser beam and the electrons 240 falls to the state of energy of the electrons, in such a way that they are more easily captured by the surface of the anode 206. As will be understood from the physical theory of dual-particle wave, the electrons that collide by the laser beam they can exhibit wave and / or particle properties.

(Of course, the scope of the claims of the present invention are not limited to any particular theory of operation other than and except where a claim expressly refers to such theory of operation, such as quantum interference.) As used in the present, to say that the laser 242 hits the electrons with the beam 244"just before" the electrons reaching the anode 206 means that the electrons that would have been hit do not pass through any other component (such as a focusing element) as they proceed to the anode 206. More specifically, the electrons are preferably struck at a distance of 2 microns, before they reach the anode 206. Even more preferably, the electrons are struck by the laser at a distance of 1 mire before of reaching the anode 206. Certainly, the distance of the second focusing element 230 to the anode 206 can be 1 miera and the laser can hit the electrons closest to the anode 206. In this way (ie, hitting the electrons just before that they reach the anode) the energy of the electrons is reduced to a point where the reduced energy is more appropriate and useful. Although the wrapping element 202 may be opaque such as a metal element, a laser window 246 is made of transparent material such that the laser beam 244 may travel from the laser 242 to the camera within the element 202. Alternatively, the laser 242 could be arranged in the chamber. In addition to improving the conversion efficiency by using the laser 242 to reduce the energy level of the electrons just before they reach the anode 206, the cathode 220 of the present invention is specifically designed to improve efficiency by increasing the emission area of cathode electrons 220. With reference to Figure 4, cathode 220 is shown as a circular grid of wires 248. Wires 250 of a first layer or upper layer of parallel wires extend in the direction 252, while the wires 254 of a second layer of parallel wires extend in the direction 256, transverse to the direction 252 and preferably perpendicular to the direction 252. A third layer of parallel wires (only one wire 258 is shown for ease of illustration) extend in address 260 (at 45 degrees from addresses 252 and 256. A fourth layer of parallel wires (only one wire 262 is shown p or ease of illustration) extend in the direction 264 (at 90 degrees of address 260). It should also be noted that Figure 4 shows the wires with relatively large separation distances between them, but this is also for ease of illustration. Preferably, the wires are finely extruded wires and the separation distances between the parallel wires in the same layer would be similar to the diameter of the wires. Preferably, the wires have diameters of 2 mm or less than the size of fine filament. The wires may be tungsten or other metals used in the cathodes. With reference to Figure 5, the wires 250 and 254 may be offset from each other with all the wires 250 (only one shown in Figure 5), arranged in a common plane displaced from a different common plane in which all the wires 254 They are willing. An alternative arrangement shown in Figure 6 has wires 250 '(only one visible) and wires 254' which are interlaced in a fabric-like manner. With reference to Figure 7, an alternative cathode 220 'can have three portions 266, 268 and 270. Each of the portions 266, 268 and 270 can have two perpendicular layers of wires (not shown in Figure 7), such as 250 and 254 (or 250 'and 254 *) - The portion 266 would have wires advancing to the viewing plane of Figure 7 and wires parallel to the plane of Figure 7. The portion 268 has two layers of wires, each having wires which extend in a direction at 30 degrees from one of the directions of the wires for portion 266. Portion 270 has two layers of wires, each layer having wires extending in a direction at 60 degrees from one of the directions of the wires for the 266 portion. It will be appreciated that Figure 7 is illustrative of the point that multiple layers of wires extending in different directions could be used. The various wire grating structures for the cathode increase the effective electron emission surface area by the shape of the wires and their multiple layers. An alternative way to increase the surface area is illustrated in Figure 8. Figure 8 shows a side cross-sectional view of a parabolic cathode 280 operable to emit electrons for general movement along the direction of movement 220A '. The cathode 280 has a flat cross-sectional area A normal to the direction of movement 202A. Significantly, the cathode 280 has an electron emission surface area EA (of the cathode curvature) for the emission of electrons towards the anode which is at least 30 percent greater than the flat cross-sectional area A. Thus, it is generated a higher electron density for a cathode of a given size. Although the cathode 280 is shown as a parabola, other curved surfaces can be used. Cathode 280 may be made from a solid element or may also incorporate multiple wire grating structures in layers described by Figures 4-7, except that each layer would be curved and not planar. Although the curved cathode arrangement of Figure 8 provides an electron emission surface area EA that is at least 30 percent greater than the lateral cross-sectional area A, the various wire grating arrangements such as that in the figure 4 provide a surface area of electron emission that is at least twice the lateral cross-sectional area (that is, defined as shown for Figure 8). Certainly, the surface area of electron emission in grid arrays would be at least ten times the lateral cross-sectional area. Advantageously, the present invention allows the cathode 220 and the anode 206 to be displaced from each other by a distance of 4 microns to 5 cm. More specifically, that distance of displacement or separation would be 1 to 3 cm. Thus, the cathode and the anode are far enough away that the heat of the cathode is less likely to be transported to the anode than in the arrangements where the cathode and anode must be in close proximity. Accordingly, the cooling source 214 may be an arrangement of low cooling demand since less cooling is required than in many prior art designs. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the preferred embodiments of the invention as summarized herein are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein and in the following claims. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Claims (20)

1. Claims Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A thermionic electrical converter characterized in that it comprises: an envelope or wrapping element; a cathode inside the operable envelope element when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the envelope element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode; and wherein the cathode is a wire grid having wires that advance in at least two directions that are transverse to each other. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises a first focusing ring charged in the enclosing element between the cathode and the anode and operable to direct electrons emitted by the cathode through the first focusing ring in its way to the anode. 3. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a second focusing ring charged in the enclosing element between the first focusing ring and the anode and operable to direct electrons emitted by the cathode through the second ring Focus on your way to the anode. 4. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the cathode is separated from the anode by a distance of 4 microns to 5 centimeters. 5. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 4, characterized in that the cathode is separated from the anode by a distance of one to three centimeters. 6. A thermionic electrical converter, characterized in that it comprises: an envelope or wrapping element; a cathode inside the operable envelope element when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the envelope element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode; and wherein the cathode consists of a grid of wires having wires advancing in at least two directions that are transverse to each other; and which further comprises a laser operable to strike electrons between the cathode and the anode. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the laser is operable to strike electrons just before they reach the anode. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 7, characterized in that the laser is operable to provide quantum interference with the electrons in such a way that the electrons are more easily captured by the anode. 9. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the cathode wire grid includes at least four layers of wires. 10. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the wire layers has wires extending in a different direction from each other of the wire layers, the cathode wire grid thus includes wires that are They extend in at least four different directions. 11. A thermionic electrical converter, characterized in that it comprises: a wrapping element; a cathode inside the operable envelope element when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the envelope element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode; and a laser operable to strike electrons between the cathode and the anode to thereby provide a quantum interference with the electrons, such that the electrons are more easily captured by the anode. 12. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 11, characterized in that the laser is operable to strike electrons just before they reach the anode. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 12, characterized in that the laser is operable to strike electrons at a distance of 2 microns before they reach the anode. 14. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 13, characterized in that the cathode consists of a grid of wires having wires advancing in at least two directions that are transverse to each other. 15. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a separation distance between the cathode and the anode from 4 microns to 5 centimeters. 16. A thermionic electrical converter, characterized in that it comprises: an envelope or wrapping element; a cathode inside the operable envelope element when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the envelope element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode and generally advancing along a direction of motion defining the direction of the cathode to the anode; and wherein the cathode has a planar cross-sectional area normal to the direction of motion, the cathode has a surface area of electron emission for the emission of electrons to the anode and where the surface area of electron emission is less 30 percent greater than the flat cross section area. 17. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the cathode consists of a grid of wires having wires advancing in at least two directions that are transverse to each other. 18. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the cathode is curved in at least one direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. 19. A thermionic electrical converter characterized in that it comprises: an envelope or wrapping element; a cathode inside the operable envelope element when heated to serve as a source of electrons; and an anode within the envelope element operable to receive electrons emitted from the cathode and generally advancing along the direction of motion defining the direction of the cathode to the anode; and wherein the cathode has a planar cross-sectional area normal to the direction of motion, the cathode has a surface area of electron emission for the emission of electrons to the anode and where the surface area of electron emission is at least less 30 percent greater than the flat cross-sectional area; and further comprising a laser operation for striking electrons between the cathode and the anode just before they reach the anode and wherein the electron emission surface area is at least twice the flat cross-sectional area. 20. The thermionic electrical converter according to claim 15, characterized in that the electron emission surface area is at least ten times the planar cross-sectional area.