Thermal characterization of an AMTEC recirculating test cellAn alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) recirculating test cell has been operated in order to determine the magnitudes of the primary heat losses of the cell and the value of the emissivity of the condenser surface. The energy balance included radiation losses, conductive losses, and losses due to the flow of sodium into the cell. The radiative heat flux dominated the heat loss mechanism of the cell at open circuit, and the condenser emissivity was calculated to be about 0.1. It is shown that, if this emissivity can be reduced to 0.02, then parasitic losses in an AMTEC recirculating test cell operating near peak power would be less than 40 percent of the heat required by the cell. The condenser emissivity decreases with elapsed time, resulting in improved thermal performance of the cell.
Document ID
19910053444
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Underwood, M. L. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
O'Connor, D. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Williams, R. M. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Jeffries-Nakamura, B. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ryan, M. A. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bankston, C. P. (JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Meeting Information
Meeting: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference