Abstract
The alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) system which utilizes the sodium ion conductivity of a beta"-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) is expected to have high conversion efficiency above 30% including practical heat losses. However, the achieved experimental 0efficiencies have been around 15%. In this paper, current-voltage characteristics and heat and mass transfer processes on a single cell have been examined experimentally and thermal electrode conversion efficiency has been discussed. Measured electrode conversion efficiency without thermal losses showed that it was about 40% at a power density of 0.3 W/cm2. A theoretical analysis on the thermal losses has also been conducted and these losses are estimated to be 0.3 W/cm2 in a practical tube type cell, so that an actual cell system efficiency of 30% is expected.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 234-244 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Heat Transfer - Asian Research |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 May 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Direct energy conversion
- Energy conversion
- Heat transfer
- Solid electrolyte
- Thermal efficiency
- Thermoelectric conversion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes