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U.S. Department of Energy
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THERMOELECTRIC HEAT EXCHANGER DEMONSTRATION UNIT. Final Report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4117482

The feasibility of a water-to-water thermoelectric heat exchanger was demonstrated. A seven-tube cluster of state-of-the-art swaged thermoelectric elements was fabricated from n- and p-type Pb--Te. The heat exchanger was operated at pressurized water temperatures of 450, 500, 550, and 600 deg F with secondary water exit temperature of 100, 150, and 200 deg F. The design electrical output of 378 watts, 8.9 volts open circuit, 4.4 volts to matched load with 86 amps and 3.6% efficiency was not achieved. The heat exchanger delivered 80 watts, 8.5 volts open circuit, 3.6 volts and 22 amps under essentially matched load conditions and 1.3% efficiency. The best individual tubular thermoelectric elements delivered efficiencies of 2.35 and 2.28%. The test data were analyzed. The factors that contributed to the difference between the design output and measured outputs are discussed. (auth)

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. Atomic Power Dept., Pittsburgh
NSA Number:
NSA-18-012319
OSTI ID:
4117482
Report Number(s):
WCAP-1811(Rev.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English