Abstract: A system and method for performing heat dissipation is disclosed that includes contacting a heat transfer liquid with a heat exchange surface having raised hydrophilic nanoporous nanostructures disposed adjacent a central core upon a substrate. The heat transfer liquid forms a preselected contact angle when placed on the heat exchange surface. The raised nanoporous nanostructures define channels, interconnected pathways, and voids within the nanoporous nanostructures. The nanoporous nanostructures have additional surface irregularities upon the nanostructures themselves. The nanostructures are preferably formed by depositing metal oxides or other materials upon a substrate using a Microreactor Assisted Nanomaterial Deposition (MAND) process.

Abstract: An alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) cell of the type employing an alkali metal flowing between a hot end of the AMTEC cell and a cold end of AMTEC cell. The AMTEC cell being separated into a low-pressure zone and a high-pressure zone and comprising a condenser communicating with the low-pressure zone for condensing alkali metal vapor migrating through the low-pressure zone from the solid electrolyte structure, a return channel coupled to the condenser for directing the condensed alkali metal from the condenser toward the hot end of the AMTEC cell, an evaporator coupled to the return channel and communicating with the high-pressure zone for evaporating the condensed alkali metal into the high-pressure zone, the evaporator including an evaporation surface, and a solid electrolyte structure separating the low-pressure zone and the high pressure zone and having alkali metal simultaneously existing in a vapor and liquid state in its interior.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkali metal thermal to electric conversion (AMTEC) cell of the type employing an alkali metal flowing between a high-pressure zone and low-pressure zone in the cell through a solid electrolyte structure. The cell preferably includes a condenser communicating with the low-pressure zone for condensing alkali metal vapor migrating through the low-pressure zone from the solid electrolyte structure. An artery is coupled to the condenser for directing condensed alkali metal from the condenser toward a hot end of the cell. An evaporator for evaporating the condensed alkali metal is coupled to the artery channel and communicates with the high-pressure zone. The artery and evaporator combine to form a return channel which preferably includes a graded pore size capillary structure for creating a region having a large pore size transitioning in any predetermined manner to a region having a relatively smaller pore size.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkali metal thermal to electric conversion (AMTEC) cell of the type employing an alkali metal flowing between a high-pressure zone and low-pressure zone in the cell through a solid electrolyte structure. According to the invention, the cell preferably includes a condenser communicating with the low-pressure zone for condensing alkali metal vapor migrating through the low-pressure zone from the solid electrolyte structure. A return channel is coupled to the condenser for directing condensed alkali metal from the condenser toward a hot end of the cell. An evaporator is coupled to the return channel for evaporating the condensed alkali metal and communicates with the high-pressure zone. The evaporator includes means for controlling an evaporation front position of the alkali metal in response to variations in the temperature gradient within the cell as caused by load changes on the cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an AMTEC cell having a more robust power conductance path (conduction, radiation, convection, and latent heat transfer) from the heat input surface of the cell to the working fluid, evaporation surface, and SES. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention includes collars, post and/or bridges extending between the SES support plate and the heat input surface. In another embodiment, a plurality of channels or conduits extend between the heat input surface and SES support plate. These embodiments simultaneously increase the thermal conductance path between the heat input surface of the cell and the evaporation surface as well as between the heat input surface of the cell and the SES, and enables superheating of the working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkali metal thermal to electric conversion (AMTEC) cell of the type employing an alkali metal flowing between a high-pressure zone and low-pressure zone in the cell through a solid electrolyte structure. The cell preferably includes a condenser communicating with the low-pressure zone for condensing alkali metal vapor migrating through the low-pressure zone from the solid electrolyte structure. An artery is coupled to the condenser for directing condensed alkali metal from the condenser toward a hot end of the cell. An evaporator for evaporating the condensed alkali metal is coupled to the artery and communicates with the high-pressure zone. A heat shield is disposed in the low pressure zone of the cell for reducing the radiative heat transfer between the hot end of the cell and the cold end of the cell. The heat shield preferably includes a first end having a known area transitioning to a second end encompassing a smaller area than the first end.

Abstract: A thermoelectric unit is disclosed having superposed PN semiconductor thermoelectric stages (10, 12) thermally and electrically connected together by a planar ceramic coupler (14) therebetween. The PN semiconductor blocks (16, 18) of each stage are connected by metallic bridging elements (20), which bridging elements are soldered to isolated metallized areas (40) on each face surface of the ceramic coupler (14) to thereby form a thermal path between the stages. Each stage further includes power source tabs (22,24; 26,28), the tabs (26,28) of one stage receiving power from the other stage through electrically conductive metallized edge paths (42, 44) on the ceramic coupler (14). This forms an interstage connection for connecting the PN semiconductor blocks of the one stage to the PN semiconductor blocks of the other stage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a thermoelectric device includes forming a matrix board (12) with an array of orifices (100) formed therein. A plurality of P-type thermoelements (96) are formed and then a vacuum chuck (92) is utilized to dispose alternating ones of the elements (96) into the alternating ones of the orifices (100). A plurality of N-type elements (108) is formed and a vacuum chuck (104) is utilized to dispose alternating ones of the elements (108) into the remaining orifices (100) of the matrix (12). This forms an assembled array (52). A plurality of conductive tabs (114) is placed onto the P-type elements (98) and N-type elements (108) by a vacuum chuck (116). A second set of conductive tabs (120) is disposed on the opposite side of the assembled array by a vacuum chuck (124). A solder flow oven (54) and a solder flow oven (76) are utilized to reflow the solder on the tabs between the two operations.