Patent ID: 6239350
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H01G

Abstract:
An alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) cell having an alkali metal flowing between a hot end of said AMTEC cell and a cold end of said AMTEC cell, said AMTEC cell being separated into a low-pressure zone including said cold end and a high-pressure zone including said hot end comprising:a solid electrolyte structure (SES) section separating said high-pressure zone from said low-pressure zone;a non conductive ceramic element (NCE) section coupled to said SES section, said NCE section being attached to a support Plate wherein said SES section is mounted within said AMTEC cell;a wick disposed on said SES section and exposed to said high pressure zone for conducting said alkali metal in both liquid and vapor phases, a portion of said NCE section being free of said wick, said alkali metal exists only in the vapor phase in said portion of said NCE section free of said wick;a condenser communicating with said low-pressure zone for condensing alkali metal vapor migrating through said low-pressure zone from said solid electrolyte structure (SES) section;a return channel coupled to said condenser for directing said condensed alkali metal from said condenser toward said hot end of said AMTEC cell; andan evaporator coupled to said return channel and communicating with said high-pressure zone for evaporating said condensed alkali metal into said high-pressure zone, said evaporator including an evaporation surface.