TY - JOUR
T1 - Power‐generating performance of alkali metal thermoelectric converter
AU - Masuda, Toshihisa
AU - Negishi, Akira
AU - Tanaka, Kotaro
AU - Honda, Takeo
AU - Fujii, Takahiro
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - The alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) utilizing the sodium ion conducting β‐alumina is a device to convert heat energy to electric energy directly. It is characterized by high conversion efficiencies, high power densities, no moving parts and low maintenance requirements. Because of these merits, AMTEC is one of the most promising candidates for aerospace power systems, remote power stations and dispersed small‐scale power stations. In this paper, the experimental results of the series‐connected cells and the theoretical considerations about internal resistances have been reported. For the single cell, the open voltage of 1.37 V and the maximum power of 7.89 W and maximum power density of 0.40 W/cm2 at the sodium temperature of 1077 K have been obtained. For the two series‐connected cells, the open voltage of 2.60 V and the maximum power of 12.3 W at the sodium temperature of 1016 K have been obtained. This power was about 90 percent of the sum power of two cells. This power decrease is due to the resistance of the current‐collecting busbar. It is necessary to optimize the current‐collecting busbar considering the electrical resistance and heat conductance.
AB - The alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) utilizing the sodium ion conducting β‐alumina is a device to convert heat energy to electric energy directly. It is characterized by high conversion efficiencies, high power densities, no moving parts and low maintenance requirements. Because of these merits, AMTEC is one of the most promising candidates for aerospace power systems, remote power stations and dispersed small‐scale power stations. In this paper, the experimental results of the series‐connected cells and the theoretical considerations about internal resistances have been reported. For the single cell, the open voltage of 1.37 V and the maximum power of 7.89 W and maximum power density of 0.40 W/cm2 at the sodium temperature of 1077 K have been obtained. For the two series‐connected cells, the open voltage of 2.60 V and the maximum power of 12.3 W at the sodium temperature of 1016 K have been obtained. This power was about 90 percent of the sum power of two cells. This power decrease is due to the resistance of the current‐collecting busbar. It is necessary to optimize the current‐collecting busbar considering the electrical resistance and heat conductance.
KW - Alkali metal
KW - direct power generation
KW - heat engine
KW - sodium
KW - solid electrolyte
KW - thermoelectric conversion
KW - β alumina
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U2 - 10.1002/eej.4391130306
DO - 10.1002/eej.4391130306
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0027618008
VL - 113
SP - 46
EP - 55
JO - Electrical Engineering in Japan (English translation of Denki Gakkai Ronbunshi)
JF - Electrical Engineering in Japan (English translation of Denki Gakkai Ronbunshi)
SN - 0424-7760
IS - 3
ER -