The potential of converting heat energy into electrical energy using a previously reported waveguide-ballistic device is presented. The interactions between incident electromagnetic waves and free electrons in a metal waveguide are analyzed with respect to their transport through a high-frequency ballistic rectifier using finite element method simulation. It was determined that the resulting conversion efficiency to a dc potential is approximately 6%, yielding a power density on the order of 30W∕m2⁠.

Issue Section:
Technical Briefs
Keywords:
thermoelectric conversion, waveguide components, thermoelectric conversion, ballistic rectification
Topics:
Thermal energy, Waveguides, Simulation
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 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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