Electrode performance parameters for a radioisotope-powered AMTEC for space power applications
- JPL, Pasadena, CA (United States)
The alkali metal thermoelastic converter (AMTEC) is a device for the direct conversion of heat to electricity. Recently a design of an AMTEC using a radioisotope heat source was described, but the optimum condenser temperature was hotter than the temperatures used in the laboratory to develop the electrode performance model. Now laboratory experiments have confirmed the dependence of two model parameters over a broader range of condenser and electrode temperatures for two candidate electrode compositions. One parameter, the electrochemical exchange current density at the reaction interface, is independent of the condenser temperature, and depends only upon the collision rate of sodium at the reaction zone. The second parameter, a morphological parameter, which measures the mass transport resistance through the electrode, is independent of condenser and electrode temperatures for molybdenum electrodes. For rhodium-tungsten electrodes, however, this parameter increases for decreasing electrode temperature, indicating an activated mass transport mechanism such as surface diffusion. 21 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 7071670
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Propulsion and Power; (United States), Vol. 8:4, Issue 4; ISSN 0748-4658
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
ALKALI METALS
CURRENT DENSITY
DESIGN
ELECTRODES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MOLYBDENUM
RHODIUM
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TUNGSTEN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
METALS
PLATINUM METALS
POWER SUPPLIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300300* - Thermoelectric Generators
070300 - Isotopic Power Supplies