Generation of electrical power
Abstract
A heat-to-electricity converter is disclosed which includes a radioactive heat source and a thermoelectric element of relatively short overall length capable of delivering a low voltage of the order of a few tenths of a volt. Such a thermoelectric element operates at a higher efficiency than longer higher-voltage elements; for example, elements producing 6 volts. In the generation of required power, thermoelectric element drives a solid-state converter which is controlled by input current rather than input voltage and operates efficiently for a high signal-plus-noise to signal ratio of current. The solid-state converter has the voltage gain necessary to deliver the required voltage at the low input of the thermoelectric element.
- Inventors:
-
- Monroeville, PA
- Leechburg, PA
- Indiana, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Arco Nuclear Co., Leechburg, Pa. (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 862479
- Patent Number(s):
- 3944438
- Assignee:
- Arco Medical Products Company (Leechburg, PA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61N - ELECTROTHERAPY
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(11-1)-3057
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- generation; electrical; power; heat-to-electricity; converter; disclosed; radioactive; heat; source; thermoelectric; element; relatively; overall; length; capable; delivering; voltage; tenths; volt; operates; efficiency; higher-voltage; elements; example; producing; volts; required; drives; solid-state; controlled; input; current; efficiently; signal-plus-noise; signal; ratio; deliver; thermoelectric element; input voltage; electrical power; heat source; electric element; required voltage; active heat; overall length; /136/976/
Citation Formats
Hursen, Thomas F, Kolenik, Steven A, and Purdy, David L. Generation of electrical power. United States: N. p., 1976.
Web.
Hursen, Thomas F, Kolenik, Steven A, & Purdy, David L. Generation of electrical power. United States.
Hursen, Thomas F, Kolenik, Steven A, and Purdy, David L. Thu .
"Generation of electrical power". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862479.
@article{osti_862479,
title = {Generation of electrical power},
author = {Hursen, Thomas F and Kolenik, Steven A and Purdy, David L},
abstractNote = {A heat-to-electricity converter is disclosed which includes a radioactive heat source and a thermoelectric element of relatively short overall length capable of delivering a low voltage of the order of a few tenths of a volt. Such a thermoelectric element operates at a higher efficiency than longer higher-voltage elements; for example, elements producing 6 volts. In the generation of required power, thermoelectric element drives a solid-state converter which is controlled by input current rather than input voltage and operates efficiently for a high signal-plus-noise to signal ratio of current. The solid-state converter has the voltage gain necessary to deliver the required voltage at the low input of the thermoelectric element.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976}
}