Design and Stress Analysis of Extraterrestrial ... - The Black Vault

STRUCIURAL DIAGRAMS AND DESIGN OF CONVERTERS
Thermoelectric converter combined with an
isotopic source and a radiator
As is seen from Fig. 3.96, the heat source in this design is
a radioactive isotope 1 located in ampoule 2 and transmitting heat
to the hot Junction of the converter through the heat-conductive
packing 3 and the heat-conductive shell 4. Semiconductor elements
5 are installed on insulators 6 and are contained in hermetically
sealed shell 7, which is also the radiator of the device.
The materials in this design include the following: shells,
stainless steel or mc'ybdenum; insulators, beryllium oxide; heatconductive
material, beryllium. Since the housing is sealed, it
is possible to use the highly effective lead telluride element.
The advantages of such a design are its simple and lightweight
nature; the disadvantage lies In the fact that it is difficult to
combine in one structure optimal cold-Junction temperature, which
is determined by the size of the radiating surface, and optimal
hot-junction temperature, which is determined by the power of-the
source and the heat-conducting capacity of many materials. We
should keep in mind that the radiating ability of the converter's
surface is not high. Obviously, it is difficult to in;roduce the
necessary parameters into this design since it
into separate elements.
is not easy to separate
Solar thermoelectric converter combined with
radiator
A design using solar energy to heat the hot junction of the
heat generator is shown in Fig. 3.97.
Sun rays passing through the transparent cover 1 of silicon
oxide heat the heat-conductive plate 2 of molybdenum or aluminum
and the hot Junction p-n of element 3.
4 2 3