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How does the electron energy change when electrons strike the collector?
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thermionic power converter
Schematic of a basic thermionic converter.
When electrons strike the collector in a thermionic power converter, their energy is partitioned to facilitate the conversion of thermal energy into electricity. A portion of the electrons' energy is utilized to drive current through an external load, which performs the desired electrical work. The remaining portion of this energy is converted into heat at the collector, which must be removed to maintain the electrode at a sufficiently low temperature.1