Series-Connected Vapor/Vapor AMTEC Cells

Size and weight reduced; operating lifetime increased. Developmental alkali-metal thermal-to-electric converter (AMTEC) in which cells fed from common supply of high-pressure sodium vapor and connected electrically in series. No liquid sodium makes contact with any part of AMTEC cells. Sodium vapor supplied to solid electrolyte of each cell through porous metal anode on upstream side. Proposed design reduces need for high-temperature feedthroughs in that cells internally connected. Power withdrawn through feedthrough at lower temperature without significant thermal loss.