SOLAR FLAT PLATE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR RESEARCH

Abstract

Research concerns the development of solar flat plate thermoelectric generators for spacecraft. A solar flat plate thermoelectric generator consists of a collector plate with an optically selective coating, small size semiconductor thermo elements, a radiator plate and a support structure. Three months of research and development work on this space auxiliary power system is described. The technical problem areas investigated include; collector coatings, thermoelectric materials and contacts and support structures. Collector coating samples suitable for evaluation were obtained. Test equipment for thermal cycling tests of solar thermoelectric panels was fabricated. Panels using a plastic foam support structure and on aluminum honeycomb support structure were fabricated and tested. A number of different thermoelectric materials were tested for efficiency at various operating temperatures.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 15, 1963
Accession Number
AD0407489

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Bismuth Tellurides
  • Contracts
  • Corporations
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Melting Point
  • Semiconductors
  • Shock
  • Spacecraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Equipment
  • Thermal Cycling Tests

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Structural Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster