Type-B Energy Process: Asymmetric Function-Gated Isothermal Electricity Production
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript entitled “Type-B Energy Process: Energy renewal through an asymmetric function-gated isothermal electricity generator system” performed a research on the type-B energy process subject to the 1st thermodynamic law that may allow the isothermally emitted electrons to travel ballistically to an acceptor. The underlying physics was explained through a model of low-electron-work-function surface involving a spatial gap, where the equations for several key parameters like electron current, voltage and power were derived. The results demonstrate the electric current generated isothermally, provided that the electron work function of the emitter is much lower than that of the acceptor. The key point here is that the electron current responsible for the electricity can continue as the excess electron flow conductively through external circuit back to the emitter where they will get reemitted again for next cycle, resulting in the gain of thermal energy from the environmental heat of surrounding environments. The authors computed thoroughly the electric power production density with various conditions and mediums. The data seems rich in a solid support of the conclusions. The present work includes a quite complete investigation of the electric power production based on data and results partially released before. A conclusive physical principle then follows. The work is valuable and I therefore recommend the publication, after a major revision. Here are my concerns:
1. The authors mentioned the electric current carrying the energy gained from surrounding environment, e.g., in line 106 of p.4 and line 1143 of p.34. This has to break the 2nd law of thermodynamics. However, gaining energy from surrounding environment is possible, if the system is subject to external drives so that the system is working far from equilibrium. This does NOT violate the 2nd law, evident by a nonvanishing entropy production. Is this the regime which authors studied? Otherwise, the conclusion from present work is contradictory to the fundamental physics. The authors need to clarify.
2. Some related references are worth being noted: Rev. Mod. Phys. 48, 571, New J. Phys. 17, 043053.
Author Response
Thank you; Please see the attached pdf for the Response to Review Comments.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear author,
Please find my comments below:
Please use the standard template of the journal for the manuscript.
In the conclusion section, I suggest you include the limitations of the research study.
Avoid emphasizing certain words by underlying them, it is not necessary.
Format references according to the requirements of the journal.
Author Response
Thank you; please see attached pdf for the Response to Review Comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper under review reports about the device for direct converting heat energy into electrical energy.
The results described in the paper can be considerable, but a lot of points are not clear for the readers, so, it is necessary to make considerable corrections.
First of all, add “Materials and methods” section and provide detailed description of the experiment and methods of measurements.
It seems to me, that different points of the circuit has different temperature and the described work as thermocouple.
To check this hypothesis it is necessary to repeat an experiment in the case when all points of the circuit has one and the same temperature. If the current will disappear, it is necessary to conclude, that the device is classical heat engine and it is necessary to rewrite introduction and conclusions.
If you will prove that the device will work in really isothermal conditions, the introduction ought be corrected too. It seems to me that your ideas about the violation of second law of thermodynamics are not correct. In fact the presented device is open system. En electrons slow down near anode and irradiate photons, spectrum of this photons differs from the spectrum of absolutely black body with temperature 1400 K (temperature of electrodes in your experiment) and this photons transfer entropy out of system.
Your can read about this phenomenon in DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2019.100433
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Thank you; please see attached pdf for the Response to Review Comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors!
Of course, if the described device realy works in isothermic conditions and it is prooved by the experiment and there is no experimental mystakes the paper must be published.
Speaking the truth, I absolutely disagree with your hypothesys of " type-B energetic process" and I think that the thermodynamics of such processes ought to be escribed in the therms "open system" and "entropy transfer".
But my disagreement does not mean that this hypothesys will not be interesting for the readers of the journal, and I recomend to published the paper without changes.
I hope that this publication will open wide scientific discussion about the thermodynamics of this process and this discussion will show what hypothesys is more correct.
