AMTEC vapor-vapor series connected cells

• US 5,441,575 A
• Filed: 01/11/1993
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Underwood, Mark L., Nakamura, Barbara J., O'Connor, Dennis E., Ryan, Margaret A., Williams, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARROLL, CHRISMAN DION
• Application Number:
  US08/004,162
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 136/200, 136/202, 136/205, 429/5, 429/11, 429/50, 429/104, 429/112, 429/120
• US Class Current: 136/202
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/21 Temperature-sensitive devices

Abstract

An alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) having a plurality of cells structurally connected in series to form a septum dividing a plenum into two chambers, and electrically connected in series, is provided with porous metal anodes and porous metal cathodes in the cells. The cells may be planar or annular, and in either case a metal alkali vapor at a high temperature is provided to the plenum through one chamber on one side of the wall and returned to a vapor boiler after condensation at a chamber on the other side of the wall in the plenum. If the cells are annular, a heating core may be placed along the axis of the stacked cells. This arrangement of series-connected cells allows efficient generation of power at high voltage and low current.

Claims

1. An array of alkali metal thermoelectric converter cells electrically connected in series utilizing a metal alkali vapor at a high temperature and desired vapor pressure from a boiler into a plenum separated into two chambers by a wall of said cells, said metal alkali vapor passing through said cells from a chamber in said plenum on one side of said wall and returning after condensation at a chamber on an opposite side of said wall at a lower pressure than said vapor pressure at said chamber in said plenum at said one side of said wall, each cell comprising,

a porous solid electrolyte plate,

a first porous metal layer deposited on one side of said solid electrolyte plate, said first metal layer functioning as an anode,

a second porous metal layer deposited on a side of said solid electrolyte plate opposite said first metal layer, said second metal layer functioning as a cathode,

conductive metal plates between said cells, one metal plate between each pair of adjacent cells for bridging gaps between solid electrolyte plates of said series-connected cells, said metal plates being connected to said solid electrolyte plates by seals, thereby forming a sealed wall in said plenum with said cells, said wall being sealed to said chamber along all edges thereof with walls of said plenum,

means for electrically connecting said cells in series comprising an electrical connection of each cathode of a cell to said metal plate between adjacent cells and each anode of a cell to said metal plate between said adjacent cells,

means for providing an electrical connection from said anode of a first cell of said array to said load, and

means for providing an electrical connection to said load from said cathode of a last cell of said array.

2. An array of alkali metal thermoelectric converter cells as defined in claim 1 wherein said cells are planar in construction to form a planar wall.

3. An array of alkali metal thermoelectric converter cells as defined in claim 2 wherein said cells are annular in construction to form a tubular wall, and said plenum is cylindrical, said plenum having a port at one end thereof for introduction of said vapor to said plenum, and a port at an end opposite said one end of said plenum for returning said vapor after passing through said cells and condensing on walls of said chamber on said opposite side.

4. An array of alkali metal thermoelectric converter cells as defined in claim 3 including a core positioned along the axis of said plenum for heating said annular cells.