Vacuum testing of high efficiency multi-base tube AMTEC cells

Author

Merrill, John M. ; Schuller, Michael J. ; Sievers, Robert ; Borkowski, Chris ; Huang, Lianmin ; El-Genk, Mohamed S.

Author_Institution

Nichols Res. Corp., Albuquerque, NM, USA

fYear

1997

fDate

27 Jul-1 Aug 1997

Firstpage

1184

Abstract

The Phillips Laboratory Power Systems Branch (PL/VTVP) is performing vacuum testing of high performance alkali metal thermoelectric conversion (AMTEC) cells. These AMTEC cells are being built by Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc. (AMPS) with design input from Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), Nichols Research Corporation (NRC), Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies (ISNPS), and PL/VTVP. Tests are performed in a prototypical environment to demonstrate feasibility and identify bottlenecks to performance and endurance as well as to provide design feedback. Test results for two major design iterations of the PX series cells are discussed. The data shows that continued improvements made to the cell design have continually increased electric power output and conversion efficiency. To date, the best performance from a PX-series cell tested at PL/VTVP was an electric power output of 4.3 watts and a conversion efficiency of ~14%. These data imply that design goals of 6 watts and 22% efficiency per cell will be surpassed

Keywords

aerospace testing; alkali metals; nuclear power; radioisotope thermoelectric generators; space vehicle power plants; 14 percent; 22 percent; 4.3 W; 6 W; PX series cells; advanced radioisotope power system; alkali metal thermoelectric conversion cells; conversion efficiency; design feedback; design goals; design iterations; electric power output; endurance; feasibility; performance; space power applications; vacuum testing; Anodes; Cathodes; Electrodes; Electron tubes; Laboratories; Performance evaluation; Power systems; Prototypes; System testing; Vacuum systems;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1997. IECEC-97., Proceedings of the 32nd Intersociety

Conference_Location

Honolulu, HI

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4515-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IECEC.1997.661936

Filename

661936