Abstract: Systems for producing hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, and related devices and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a pyrolysis reactor that can be coupled to a supply of reaction material that includes a hydrocarbon. The reactor includes one or more flow channels positioned to transfer heat to the reaction material to convert the hydrocarbon into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates. The system also includes a carbon separation system operably coupled to the pyrolysis reactor to separate the hydrogen gas the carbon particulates in the output. In various embodiments, the system also includes components to locally consume the filtered hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Systems for producing hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, and related devices and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a pyrolysis reactor that can be coupled to a supply of reaction material that includes a hydrocarbon. The reactor includes one or more flow channels positioned to transfer heat to the reaction material to convert the hydrocarbon into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates. The system also includes a carbon separation system operably coupled to the pyrolysis reactor to separate the hydrogen gas the carbon particulates in the output. In various embodiments, the system also includes components to locally consume the filtered hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include thermionic energy converters with a thermal concentrating hot shell and emitters for thermionic energy converters. In some embodiments, an illustrative thermionic energy converter includes: an emitter electrode; a hot shell configured to concentrate heat flow toward the emitter electrode; a collector electrode; and a cold shell that is thermally isolated from the hot shell.

Abstract: Combined combustion and pyrolysis (CCP) systems, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the CCP system includes an input valve fluidly coupleable to a fuel supply to receive a hydrocarbon reactant, a CCP reactor fluidly coupled to the input valve, and a carbon separation component fluidly coupled to the CCP reactor. The CCP reactor can include a combustion chamber, a reaction chamber in thermal communication with the combustion chamber and/or fluidly coupled to the input valve, and an insulating material positioned to reduce heat loss from the combustion chamber and/or the reaction chamber. The CCP reactor can also include a combustion component positioned to combust a fuel within the combustion chamber. The combustion can heat the reaction chamber and the hydrocarbon reactant flowing therethrough. The heat causes a pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon reactant that generates hydrogen gas and carbon.

Abstract: Systems for producing hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, and related devices and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a pyrolysis reactor system that can be coupled to a supply of reaction material that includes a hydrocarbon. The pyrolysis reactor system includes one or more combustion components positioned to transfer heat to the reaction material to convert the hydrocarbon into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates. The pyrolysis reactor system also includes a carbon separation system positioned to separate the hydrogen gas the carbon particulates in the output. In various embodiments, the system also includes components to locally consume the filtered hydrogen gas, such as a power generator, heating appliance, and/or a combined heat and power device.

Abstract: Systems for producing hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, and related devices and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a pyrolysis reactor that can be coupled to a supply of reaction material that includes a hydrocarbon. The reactor includes one or more flow channels positioned to transfer heat to the reaction material to convert the hydrocarbon into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates. The system also includes a carbon separation system operably coupled to the pyrolysis reactor to separate the hydrogen gas the carbon particulates in the output. In various embodiments, the system also includes components to locally consume the filtered hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermophotovoltaic converter has a photon emitter and at least one photovoltaic cell, the photon emitter being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the at least one photovoltaic cell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermophotovoltaic converter has a photon emitter and at least one photovoltaic cell, the photon emitter being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the at least one photovoltaic cell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include thermionic energy converters with a thermal concentrating hot shell and emitters for thermionic energy converters. In some embodiments, an illustrative thermionic energy converter includes: an emitter electrode; a hot shell configured to concentrate heat flow toward the emitter electrode; a collector electrode; and a cold shell that is thermally isolated from the hot shell.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermionic energy converter has a hot shell and a cold shell, the hot shell being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the cold shell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermionic energy converter has a hot shell and a cold shell, the hot shell being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the cold shell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include cathodes with conformal cathode surfaces, vacuum electronic devices with cathodes with conformal cathode surfaces, and methods of manufacturing the same. In a non-limiting embodiment, a cathode for a vacuum electronic device includes: a substrate having a predetermined shape; and electron emissive material disposed on at least one portion of at least one surface of the substrate, a shape of the electron emissive material conforming to the predetermined shape of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for using a multi-element field emission cathode in a color cathode ray tube. The field emission cathode may have from four to ten field emission arrays linearly arranged. The arrays are preferably formed from carbon-based material. An electron gun assembly focuses electron beams from each array on to a phosphor stripe or dot on the screen of the cathode ray tube. Deflection apparatus moves the beam from each field emission array according to clock signals. Clock signals also turn on or turn off voltage to contacts controlling electron current from the array. Values of voltage applied, determined by a video signal, determine the intensity of electron current from each array, which controls the intensity of the light emitted by each color stripe or dot of phosphor on the phosphor screen.