Stacked vapor fed amtec modules
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a stacked AMTEC module. The invention includes a tubular member which has an interior. The member is comprised of a ion conductor that substantially conducts ions relative to electrons, preferably a beta"-alumina solid electrolyte, positioned about the interior. A porous electrode for conducting electrons and allowing sodium ions to pass therethrough, and wherein electrons and sodium ions recombine to form sodium is positioned about the beta"-alumina solid electrolyte. The electrode is operated at a temperature and a pressure that allows the recombined sodium to vaporize. Additionally, an outer current collector grid for distributing electrons throughout the porous electrode is positioned about and contacts the porous electrode. Also included in the invention is transporting means for transporting liquid sodium to the beta"-alumina solid electrolyte of the tubular member. A transition piece is positioned about the interior of the member and contacts the transporting means. The transition piece divides the member into a first cell and a second cell such that each first and second cell has a beta"-alumina solid electrolyte, a first and second porous electrode and a grid. The transition piece conducts electrons from the interior of the tubular member. There is supply means formore »
- Inventors:
-
- North Huntingdon, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866855
- Patent Number(s):
- 4808240
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01G - CAPACITORS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-86SF16503
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- stacked; vapor; fed; amtec; modules; pertains; module; tubular; interior; comprised; conductor; substantially; conducts; relative; electrons; preferably; beta; -alumina; solid; electrolyte; positioned; porous; electrode; conducting; allowing; sodium; pass; therethrough; recombine; form; operated; temperature; pressure; allows; recombined; vaporize; additionally; outer; current; collector; grid; distributing; throughout; contacts; included; transporting; means; liquid; transition; piece; divides; cell; supply; supplying; shell; surrounds; vaporized; condenses; thereon; returning; condensed; provides; continuous; electric; extends; supply means; electric current; current collector; solid electrolyte; liquid sodium; porous electrode; pass therethrough; form sodium; conducting means; collector grid; conducting electric; continuous supply; transporting liquid; amtec module; conducting electrons; /136/976/
Citation Formats
Sievers, Robert K. Stacked vapor fed amtec modules. United States: N. p., 1989.
Web.
Sievers, Robert K. Stacked vapor fed amtec modules. United States.
Sievers, Robert K. Sun .
"Stacked vapor fed amtec modules". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866855.
@article{osti_866855,
title = {Stacked vapor fed amtec modules},
author = {Sievers, Robert K},
abstractNote = {The present invention pertains to a stacked AMTEC module. The invention includes a tubular member which has an interior. The member is comprised of a ion conductor that substantially conducts ions relative to electrons, preferably a beta"-alumina solid electrolyte, positioned about the interior. A porous electrode for conducting electrons and allowing sodium ions to pass therethrough, and wherein electrons and sodium ions recombine to form sodium is positioned about the beta"-alumina solid electrolyte. The electrode is operated at a temperature and a pressure that allows the recombined sodium to vaporize. Additionally, an outer current collector grid for distributing electrons throughout the porous electrode is positioned about and contacts the porous electrode. Also included in the invention is transporting means for transporting liquid sodium to the beta"-alumina solid electrolyte of the tubular member. A transition piece is positioned about the interior of the member and contacts the transporting means. The transition piece divides the member into a first cell and a second cell such that each first and second cell has a beta"-alumina solid electrolyte, a first and second porous electrode and a grid. The transition piece conducts electrons from the interior of the tubular member. There is supply means for supplying sodium to the transporting means. Preferably the supply means is a shell which surrounds the tubular member and is operated at a temperature such that the vaporized sodium condenses thereon. Returning means for returning the condensed sodium from the shell to the transporting means provides a continuous supply of liquid sodium to the transporting means. Also, there are first conducting means for conducting electric current from the transition piece which extends through the shell, and second conducting means for conducting electric current to the grid of the first cell which extends through the shell.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989}
}