Recent Advances In Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter (AMTEC) Electrode Performance And Modeling

C. P. Bankston; R. M. Williams; B. Jeffries-Nakamura; M. E. Loveland; M. L. Underwood; T. Cole

doi:10.1117/12.943630

6 April 1988 Recent Advances In Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter (AMTEC) Electrode Performance And Modeling

C. P. Bankston, R. M. Williams, B. Jeffries-Nakamura, M. E. Loveland, M. L. Underwood, T. Cole

Proceedings Volume 0871, Space Structures, Power, and Power Conditioning; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.943630
Event: 1988 Los Angeles Symposium: O-E/LASE '88, 1988, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter (AMTEC) is a direct energy conversion device, utilizing a high sodium vapor pressure or activity ratio across a beta"-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE). It has been operated at a device efficiency of 19% and at power densities near 1.0 W/cm². This paper describes progress on the remaining scien-tific issue which must be resolved to demonstrate AMTEC feasibility for space power systems: a stable, high power density electrode. Two electrode systems have recently been discovered at JPL that now have the potential to meet space power requirements. One of these is a very thin sputtered molybdenum film, less than 0.5 micron thick, with over-lying current collection grids. This electrode has experimentally demonstrated stable performance at 0.4-0.5 W/cm² for hundreds of hours. Recent modeling results show that at least 0.7 W/cm² can be achieved. The model of electrode performance now includes all loss mechanisms, including charge transfer resistances at the electrode/electrolyte interface. A second electrode composition, co-sputtered platinum/tungsten, has demon-strated 0.8 W/cm² for 160 hours. Systems studies show that a stable electrode performance of 0.6 W/cm² will enable high efficiency (near 20%) space power systems.

Citation Download Citation

C. P. Bankston, R. M. Williams, B. Jeffries-Nakamura, M. E. Loveland, M. L. Underwood, and T. Cole "Recent Advances In Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter (AMTEC) Electrode Performance And Modeling", Proc. SPIE 0871, Space Structures, Power, and Power Conditioning, (6 April 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.943630

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