Thermoelectric power system

Patent · Tue Mar 19 04:00:00 EDT 1974

OSTI ID:7195767

Byrd, A W

A thermoelectric power system is described comprising: a heat means having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet for receiving a fluid at said inlet, heating said fluid, and providing it as a heated fluid at said outlet; at least one thermoelectric generator assembly, each comprising: a fluid chamber having an inlet coupled to the outlet of said heat means and a fluid outlet, said chamber being heated by fluid from said heat means, first and second heat pipes, each comprising an elongated closed tube having a wick along the interior surface of said tube and containing a working fluid, a mounting means for sealably extending one end region of said first heat pipe into said chamber and the opposite end region of said first heat pipe into said second heat pipe, a thermoelectric element having a hot junction and a cold junction, said thermoelectric element being positioned within said second heat pipe and being positioned with its cold junction in engagement with said working fluid of said second pipe, and radiation means coupled to said second heat pipe for radiating into space heat absorbed by said second heat pipe from said cold junction of said thermoelectric element; and pumping means interconnecting said heat means and said chamber of each said assembly for pumping heated fluid from the outlet of said heat means through each said chamber and back to said heat means, whereby heat is transferred from said heat means by fluid flow to each said chamber, thence by said first heat pipe to a said hot junction, thence from said cold junction to said second heat pipe, and thereafter disposed of by radiation.

• Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Patent Number(s): US 3931532
• OSTI ID: 7195767
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300301* -- Thermoelectric Generators-- Design & Development
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
FLUIDS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT SOURCES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PUMPS
RADIATORS
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
WORKING FLUIDS