SPARK THERMIONICS, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A19-133

Description

Spark Thermionics proposes to develop transformative fuel-flexible generators based on thermionic energy conversion. Thermionics has the potential to leapfrog competing small-scale generation in size, weight and power, but has largely been neglected for decades. In a thermionic energy converter, electrons evaporate from a hot electrode into a vacuum gap and are collected by a cooler electrode, generating current. The core attributes of the proposed technology are its 1) simplicity, 2) power density, and 3) modularity, scaling for any power need from individual soldier and beyond for charging batteries on the move. In our Phase I effort, we successfully designed a generator for an individual soldier that meets all requirements of the A19.133 solicitation, including providing power for 24 hours, with a volume <50 cubic inches, no dimension exceeding 12 inches, and weighing <2.5 pounds (lbs). In our Phase II work, we propose to fabricate and demonstrate these generators for operational relevant environments. At the end of the award, we will deliver at least two TRL 6 prototypes to the Government.