Performance Tests of Skutterudites and Segmented Thermoelectric Converters

Details Performance Tests of Skutterudites and Segmented Thermoelectric Converters Performance Tests of Skutterudites and Segmented Thermoelectric Converters

Feb 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aipc..699..541e&link_type=abstract

SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INTERNAT.FORUM-STAIF 2004: Conf.on Thermophys.in Microgravity; Commercial/Civil Next Gen.Space

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Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components, Magnetohydrodynamic Generators And Thermionic Convertors, Plasma Diodes

Scientific paper

This paper presents results of three performance tests of Skutterudites and Segmented Thermoelectric (STE) unicouples performed at average hot and cold shoe temperatures of ~ 973 K and 300 K, respectively, to verify theoretical predictions. The first two tests (MAR-03 and JUN-03) involved non-segmented Skutterudites unicouples of slightly different dimension but same materials for the n- (CoSb3) and p- (CeFe3.5Co0.5Sb12) legs. The test duration is 450 hours for MAR-03 and 1200 hours for JUN-03. The third test (JUL-03) is for a Skutterudites/Segmented (STE) unicouple, in which the p-leg has two segments of CeFe3.5Co0.5Sb12 and Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 and the n-leg has two segments of CoSb3 and Bi2Te2.95Se0.05. The segments in the n- and p-legs have different lengths and cross-sectional areas. The JUL-03 test duration is 645 hours. All tested unicouples are fabricated at JPL and assembled and tested in the vacuum facility at the University of New Mexico in argon at ~ 0.051 to 0.068 MPa to suppress the sublimation of antimony from the legs near the hot shoe. Detailed measurements of the open circuit voltage, voltage across the n- and p-legs, the voltage-current (V-I) characteristics, and the hot and cold shoe temperatures are performed in all tests. In JUL-03, additional measurements of the interfacial temperatures and the voltage across the segments in the n- and p-legs are obtained as functions of test duration. Estimates of beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiencies of 10.7% for Shutterudites and 13.5% for STE unicouples are within 10% of theoretical predictions assuming zero side heat losses and zero contact resistances. Estimates of these losses in the tests are 2.3 W in MAR-03 to 9.3 W in JUL-03, thus actual efficiencies in the tests are ~ 40-50% lower. Because cross sectional areas of the legs of JUL-03 are much larger than of both MAR-03 and JUN-03, the measured BOL peak electrical power per unicouple is 1.295 We versus 0.671 We for the latter.

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