This paper presents the results of a 3‐D performance analysis of Skutterudite‐Based Segmented Unicouple (SKU) with nine μm thick Molybdenum (Mo) coatings on n‐ and p‐legs near the hot junction. The analysis performed at hot and cold junction temperatures of 973 K and 300 K investigated the effect of the coating on lateral distributions of the electric current, voltage, and temperatures in the legs and the conversion efficiency and electric power generated by the unicouple. The p‐ and n‐legs are 20 mm long and have hot and cold segments of CeFe3.5Co0.5Sb12 and Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3, and of CoSb3 and Bi2Te2.95Se0.05, respectively. The cross‐section area of the p‐leg is 11 mm2. The cross sectional area of the n‐leg and the lengths of the Mo coatings and of various segments of the legs are determined for maximum conversion efficiency using a 1‐D optimization model. The 3‐D analysis performed with ANSYS finite element commercial software used the dimension determined by the 1‐D model. Results show that the electric currents near the outer surface of the Mo coatings flow in the opposite direction to those in the n‐ and p‐legs. In very thin parts of legs near the interface with the coatings, electric currents flow in the same direction as in the coatings, but decrease rapidly with inward distance from the interface, eventually becoming zero, then flowing in the same direction as the electric current in the legs. Such current circulation increases joules losses in the coated parts of the hot segments of the legs, decreasing the conversion efficiency. The increased heat flow from the hot shoe through the metallic coatings contributes to decreasing the conversion efficiency, but increasing the electric power generated by SKU.
Three‐Dimensional Analyses of Skutterudite‐Based Segmented Unicouples with Metallic Coating
SPACE TECH.& APPLIC.INT.FORUM-STAIF 2006: 10th Conf Thermophys Applic Microgravity; 23rd Symp Space Nucl Pwr & Propulsion; 4th Conf Human/Robotic Tech & Nat'l Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp on New Frontiers & Future Concepts ; 2006 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 813 , 1 ; 581-589
2006-01-20
9 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Three-Dimensional Analyses of Skutterudite-Based Segmented Unicouples with Metallic Coating
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