Patent GB-894207-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electric generating systems
IPC: H01L35/00
Filed: 1958-09-23
Abstract: 894,207. Thermopiles. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION. Sept. 23, 1958 [Sept. 9, 1957], No. 30336/58. Class 37. [Also in Group XL (a)] A thermopile for use in the direct conversion into electricity of heat generated by nuclear chain reactions consists of a series of spaced tubular sections forming an inner cylindrical surface, a coaxial series of spaced tubular sections staggered with respect to the other sections and forming an outer cylindrical surface and a series of tubular sections alternately of different materials both of high thermoelectric power joining adjacent inner and outer sections to form a continuous tube comprising a large number of the thermocouples in series. The tube may be of circular, oval or rectangular cross-section. In one embodiment (Fig. 1) rings 86, 88 of ferrous and ferric sulphide respectively are disposed as shown between inner and outer sections 78, 80, respectively, of stainless steel and are fixed thereto by brazing or ultrasonic soldering. The gaps between adjacent outer sections are minimized when the assembly is used in a system where fluid coolant flows axially past the tubes to reduce turbulence, and the end sections are bevelled for the same purpose. In an alternative alternate rings 88 have external flanges filling the gaps between the outer sections to further reduce turbulence. In another arrangement, Fig. 5, which may also have this gapfilling feature, the end sections are outer sections thereby enabling the tube to have a cylindrical cross-section over its entire length. The tubes are filled with uranium oxide UO2 or U3O8 in which fission occurs by absorption of thermal neutrons to give a self-sustaining chain reaction generating heat and the ends sealed. Unfilled tubes of otherwise similar construction may be used in heat-exchangers in which the coolant of the filled tubes flows through or around the tubes, and a further coolant flows around or through them. In one tube of this type both sets of rings have flanges (Fig. 11) to provide a tube with flush inner and outer surfaces. The direct contacts between the rings in the above embodiments do not short-circuit the thermocouples because of the high resistivity of the materials used. In addition to ferrous and ferric sulphide, the following materials of high thermoelectric power are suitable for the rings: mixed valence compounds of the formula LimT(1-m)X or AlmT(1-m)X, where T is one or more of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu and Zn, X is one or more of O, S, Se, Te and 0.001 < m < 0.1, and compounds of the formula MZ(1a), where M is one or more of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, Z is one or more of S, Se, Te, As, Sb and Bi, and a has a positive value of from 0.001 to 0.1. Compounds from these groups which may be prepared as described in Specification 865,541 may be used in combination with each other or with Cu, Ag, base alloys of Cu and Ag, and Mo. The coolant fluids in the heat-exchangers must be insulating to avoid short-circuiting the thermocouples. Suitable coolants are carbon dioxide gas, phenyl, diphenyl and terphenyl. A typical nuclear reactor in which the nuclear heat is converted direct into electricity is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7. In Fig. 3 a series of plugged uranium oxide filled thermopile tubes are mounted in electrical parallel between stainless steel endplates 26, 28 and coolant nozzle assemblies 30 are attached as shown to complete the subassembly. A number of such sub-assemblies are assembled in a reaction chamber, as shown in Fig. 7, between mounting-plates 97, 98 in insulating sleeves 102, 104. The electrical output from the sub-assemblies, which are connected in series by connectors 110, 111 is taken from the chamber by leads 112, 113 sealed through its walls. Where a higher voltage output is required the tubes in each subassembly may be assembled between insulating, e.g. ceramic, end-plates and connected in series by metal connectors. Various series-parallel arrangements are also possible. Specifications 822,790 and 865,542 also are referred to.