SOLAR FLAT PLATE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR RESEARCH
Abstract
A solar flat plate thermoelectric converter consists of a collector plate with an optically selective coating, small size thermoelements, a radiator plate and a support. The collector and radiator plates were folded into selfsupporting structures which, combined with aluminum tubular members, comprised the panel support configuration. This design resulted in a very low converter weight, only 53 grams per square foot. A number of prototype panels, were fabricated and tested. The panels passed specified environmental test without physical or electrical changes. Evaluation of the optically selective coating disclosed that the coating efficiency actually obtained in the pilot production runs was only 80% of the literature value. The processing of the bismuth telluride thermoelectric material into the shape and size required for the solar panels caused a decrease in performance relative to large size thermoelements. This decrease, combined with basic material properties inferior to literature values, resulted in a thermoelectric efficiency only 50% of that initially expected. The overall panel performance in the Earth orbit operational temperature regime resulted in approximately 11 watts per pound of panel
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 14, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0605931
Entities
People
- Robert E. Rush