CAREER: Low Temperature Microplasmas For Thermal Energy Conversion, Education, and Outreach

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

CAREER Abstract:Low Temperature Microplasmas For Thermal Energy Conversion, Education, and OutreachThermionic energy conversion (TEC) is the direct conversion of heat to electricity by the thermal(thermionic) emission of electrons from a very hot surface. Though historically pursued primarilyfor electricity production from nuclear sources in space applications, it has the potential to be usedterrestrially for waste heat, solar, or nuclear energy conversion. To meet this objective, however,TEC must be enhanced to operate more efficiently at lower temperatures than historically possible.Microplasma thermionic energy conversion occurs when a microplasma (ionized gas) is ignitedbetween a thermionic diode with an electrode spacing ~1-20 micrometers. This mode of operationcould enable operation in inert gases, at near atmospheric pressures, and at lower temperatures - allnecessary features for practical terrestrial application. Understanding of the fundamental interactionbetween thermionic emission and microplasmas will be advanced by this research in order to pavethe way for microplasma-TEC devices. First principles theory and simulations will be used to revealthe inter-dependence between a microplasma and thermionic emission, and experiments will beconducted to confirm the enhancement of thermionic emission by a microplasma necessary to realizeimproved energy conversion efficiency. Carbon-based electrodes, including diamond and carbonnanotubes, will be synthesized using a microplasma jet processing technique and used as electrodesin microplasma-TEC experiments. In addition to the efficacy of microplasma-TEC being establishedby this research, fundamental studies will also advance the basic understanding of plasma/electrodecoupling, where there are persistent questions that affect a wide variety of technologies from highintensitydischarge lamps to arc-based materials deposition.Direct thermal-to-electrical energy conversion can be used to convert solar, nuclear, and waste heatto electricity, and energy conversion technologies will play an important role in creating a moreenergy efficient and independent nation. The discoveries made by this research will lay thefoundation for practical, terrestrial TEC devices that could become an essential part of the energyeconomy, greatly impacting energy security in the United States. Further, undergraduate studentsfrom underrepresented minorities will be engaged in this research early in their careers, creating amore effective undergraduate research experience and increasing the number that achieve graduatescience and engineering degrees. Using a service-learning approach, outreach to the local K-8 youthin the community will be led by these undergraduates including the creation of a plasma exhibit for acommunity-wide science festival and a targeted, interactive outreach program on environmentalscience for middle school students. These undergraduate students will be exposed to the fulfillingnature of outreach and also inspire a large number of K-8 youth toward science and engineering,creating a perpetuating educational cycle in which each generation fosters the inspiration,excitement, and development of the next generation.