AMTEC Module Test Program

The Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) is a thermally regenerated sodium concentration cell that statically converts heat directly into electricity. The high efficiency of AMTEC will be useful for power generation in space and terrestrial applications. A series of 6 geometrically similar cells with identical wick structures has been fabricated by Advanced Modular Power Systems (AMPS). Three electrode/current collector designs have been included in the testing matrix. Two cells of each design were built. One cell in each set had a thermocouple installed at the electrode/current collector interface to measure the temperature of the beta‐alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) tube. This thermocouple can also be used to measure the voltage at the cathode since its sheath is electrically isolated from ground. The BASE tubes used to build the cells were all from the same production lot. This testing program represents a unique opportunity to comparatively evaluate the performance of geometrically iden...