Thermoelectric generator. [liquid metal working fluid]

Patent · Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6603671

Saillant, R B; Weber, N

An improved thermoelectric generator is described having (1) enclosure means for a first reaction zone; (2) enclosure means for a second reaction zone; (3) a reaction zone separator which (a) separates and essentially completes enclosure of the two reaction zones and (b) comprises a cationically-conductive, solid electrolyte that is essentially impermeable to elemental alkali metal and compounds thereof and ionically conductive with respect to cations of the alkali metal; (4) alkali metal within the first reaction zone and in fluid communication with the solid electrolyte; (5) an electrode within the second reaction zone in electrical contact with the solid electrolyte and sufficiently porous to permit alkali metal vapor to pass therethrough; (6) conduction means for electron flow between the alkali metal within the first reaction zone and the electrode; (7) inlet means for introducing the alkali metal into the first reaction zone; and (8) temperature control means adapted to maintain a temperature in the first reaction zone at least 100/sup 0/C in excess of the lowest temperature in the second reaction zone. The improvement of the invention comprises employing as the electrode a porous film of a metal which has a melting point above about 1000/sup 0/C and which is chemically inert to sodium, the film having been deposited on said reaction zone separator by chemical vapor deposition.

• Assignee: Ford Motor Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4049877
• OSTI ID: 6603671
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 17 Sep 1975
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
DESIGN
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
LIQUID METALS
MOLYBDENUM
SODIUM
THERMOCOUPLES
TUNGSTEN
ALKALI METALS
CHEMICAL COATING
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
LIQUIDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
REFRACTORY METALS
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300301* - Thermoelectric Generators- Design & Development