Thermoelectric power system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorAmbrose W. Byrd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoelectric power system particularly adaptable for use in outer space in which a nuclear reactor heats a working fluid, which in turn supplies heat to a plurality of thermoelectric generators spaced about a ring-shaped support. A first heat pipe is employed to couple heat between the hot fluid and hot junction of the thermoelectric element of each generator, and a second heat pipe couples heat away from the cold junction of each thermoelectric element. Each of the second heat pipes are elongated flexible units adapted to be folded upon launch of the system of a space vehicle and thereafter extended in space to provide a substantial area of radiation of heat to be discharged.
Claims7
A thermoelectric power system comprising:
- a heat means having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet for receiving a fluid at said inlet, heating said fluid, and providing it as a heated fluid at said outlet;
- at least one thermoelectric generator assembly, each comprising:
- a fluid chamber having an inlet coupled to the outlet of said heat means and a fluid outlet, said chamber being heated by fluid from said heat means,
- first and second heat pipes, each comprising an elongated closed tube having a wick along the interior surface of said tube and containing a working fluid,
- a mounting means for sealably extending one end region of said first heat pipe into said chamber and the opposite end region of said first heat pipe into said second heat pipe,
- a thermoelectric element having a hot junction and a cold junction, said thermoelectric element being positioned within said second heat pipe and being positioned with its cold junction in engagement with said working fluid of said second pipe, and
- radiation means coupled to said second heat pipe for radiating into space heat absorbed by said second heat pipe from said cold junction of said thermoelectric element;
- and
- pumping means interconnecting said heat means and said chamber of each said assembly for pumping heated fluid from the outlet of said heat means through each said chamber and back to said heat means, whereby heat is transferred from said heat means by fluid flow to each said chamber, thence by said first heat pipe to a said hot junction, thence from said cold junction to said second heat pipe, and thereafter disposed of by radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.