TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance characteristics and thermal design of alkali metal thermoelectric conversion system
AU - Tanaka, Kotaro
AU - Masuda, Toshihisa
AU - Negishi, Akira
AU - Honda, Takeo
AU - Hori, Yasuhiko
AU - Homma, Takuya
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - Experimental studies to improve the performance of the alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) have been conducted. A new method for supplying thermal energy to the beta-aluminum solid electrolyte (BASE) is proposed. A porous metal thermal conductor inserted between the thermal source and the BASE tubes reduces the large temperature drop without disturbing the sodium vapor flow from the electrodes to the condenser surfaces. The current-voltage characteristics of three different types of BASE tubes were measured, and the highest power density achieved was 0.6 W/cm2 at 1100 K. A preliminary 7-kW AMTEC system integrated with a space solar receiver (SSR) has been designed based on the state-of-the-art AMTEC performance. The AMTEC-SSR system has achieved a specified mass of approximately 130 kg/kWe, resulting in an expected mass reduction of 20-50% as compared with solar dynamic power systems or solar photovoltaic systems.
AB - Experimental studies to improve the performance of the alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) have been conducted. A new method for supplying thermal energy to the beta-aluminum solid electrolyte (BASE) is proposed. A porous metal thermal conductor inserted between the thermal source and the BASE tubes reduces the large temperature drop without disturbing the sodium vapor flow from the electrodes to the condenser surfaces. The current-voltage characteristics of three different types of BASE tubes were measured, and the highest power density achieved was 0.6 W/cm2 at 1100 K. A preliminary 7-kW AMTEC system integrated with a space solar receiver (SSR) has been designed based on the state-of-the-art AMTEC performance. The AMTEC-SSR system has achieved a specified mass of approximately 130 kg/kWe, resulting in an expected mass reduction of 20-50% as compared with solar dynamic power systems or solar photovoltaic systems.
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M3 - Conference article
AN - SCOPUS:0025557537
VL - 2
SP - 402
EP - 406
JO - Proceedings of the Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
JF - Proceedings of the Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
SN - 0146-955X
T2 - Proceedings of the 25th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference - IECEC '90
Y2 - 12 August 1990 through 17 August 1990
ER -