Design and performance evaluation on a small-sized AMTEC cell component

An AMTEC cell component of a free-standing type has been designed and fabricated. For the proposed cell component it is intended to use a small-sized and thin beta"-alumina electrolyte tube. The particular expected features of the cell component are its structural simplicity and lower temperature operation around 900 K. The design adopted molybdenum cathode electrodes and capillary wick tubes of 50 /spl mu/m in inside diameter. Preliminary test of the cell component has been carried out and the measured performance has been evaluated. The following matters are discussed; (1) capillary wick design for sodium recirculation, (2) performance of molybdenum electrodes under the low temperature operation, and (3) thermal supply method to the cell component.