The objective of this effort, under NASA’s Project Prometheus, the Nuclear Systems Program, is to develop a high efficiency thermoelectric (T/E) energy conversion device to power radioisotope power systems (RPS) for future NASA space science applications. The conversion efficiency goal is 10% or higher at a power output level of 20 W or higher. The T/E efficiency achievable with the present T/E materials is about 8.5%. To increase the conversion efficiency, the T/E material properties as well as the T/E couple thermal and electrical performance need to be improved. By altering and optimizing the compositional make up, homogeneity and the microstructural characteristics such as the grain size and the phases present the T/E material properties can be improved. The T/E couple performance can be improved by reducing the electrical and thermal contact resistances as well as the physical integrity of the segmented T/E elements. The latter characteristics are improved by reducing the thermo‐mechanical stresses, improving the quality of the bonds and interfaces, minimizing the number of required bonds, and reducing the degradation rate of the T/E materials and the bonds.


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    Title :

    Improvements in Materials and Processes for Segmented BiTe/PbTe‐BiTe/TAGS/PbSnTe based Thermoelectric Generators



    Conference:

    SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INT.FORUM-STAIF 2005: Conf.Thermophys in Micrograv;Conf Comm/Civil Next Gen.Space Transp; 22nd Symp Space Nucl.Powr Propuls.;Conf.Human/Robotic Techn.Nat'l Vision Space Expl.; 3rd Symp Space Colon.; 2nd Symp.New Frontiers ; 2005 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 746 , 1 ; 564-571


    Publication date :

    2005-02-06


    Size :

    8 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Improvements in Materials and Processes for Segmented BiTe/PbTe-BiTe/TAGS/PbSnTe based Thermoelectric Generators

    Flanders, L. A. / Drinker, R. W. / Heshmatpour, B. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators Based on Segmented BiTe/PbTe‐BiTe/TAGS/PbSnTe

    McAlonan, Malachy / Patel, Kalpesh / Cummer, Keith | American Institute of Physics | 2006


    Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators Based on Segmented BiTe/PbTe-BiTe/TAGS/PbSnTe

    McAlonan, M. / Patel, K. / Cummer, K. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    Advanced Superlattice BiTe-PbTe/TAGS Milliwatt Radioisotope Power System

    Drinker, R. W. / Reddy, A. / Heshmatpour, B. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Advanced Superlattice BiTe‐PbTe/TAGS Milliwatt Radioisotope Power System

    Drinker, Richard W. / Reddy, Anil / Heshmatpour, Ben et al. | American Institute of Physics | 2005