Liquid metal thermoelectric converter (LMTEC) for solar applications
An overview is given of the research and development plan for the Liquid Metal Thermoelectric Converter (LMTEC) being undertaken by Sandia Laboratories under the Solar Thermal Technologies program of DOE. Sandia initiated work in this area less than a year ago and has pursued the work as a specific subtask starting in FY 1985. As with any new project, a significant part of the initial effort has been spent on reviewing the current technology in thermo-electric converters including Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Systems (TRES), fuel cells, thermionic devices, magnetohydrodynamics, and other modes of direct thermal-to-electric conversion. Consequently, no formal research results are included in this paper and the presentation is intended more to indicate those areas in which further research and development efforts could be expended to prove of positive impact on the solar application of LMTEC. The principal objective of this task is to design, engineer, and develop a LMTEC suitable for use in solar distributed receiver applications. Since the thermal requirements for the LMTEC are in the temperature range of parabolic dishes, the engineering development effort will concentrate on a device that can be mounted at the focal point of a dish and preferably incorporated into the receiver. Due to a technology review, the LMTEC most likely will be based on the current Sodium Heat Engine (SHE) concept. Our main effort will consist of optimizing the concept for solar applications and conducting the necessary engineering development to produce a 20 to 50 kWe device.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5792345
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-84-0627C; CONF-850252-3; ON: DE85008405
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Solar thermal research program annual conference, Denver, CO, USA, 20 Feb 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
LIQUID METALS
PARABOLIC DISH COLLECTORS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
SODIUM
ALKALI METALS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
LIQUIDS
METALS
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)
300300 - Thermoelectric Generators