PX series AMTEC cell design, testing, and analysis

PX (Pluto Express) cell testing and analysis has shown that AMTEC (alkali metal thermoelectric conversion) cells can reach the power levels required by the proposed RPS (radioisotope power supply) system designs. A major PX cell design challenge was to optimize the power and efficiency of the cell while allowing a broad operational power range. These design optimization issues are greatly dependent on the placement of the evaporation zone. Before the PX-2 and PX-4 cells were built, the results from the PX-1, ATC-2 (artery test cell) and design analysis indicated the need for a thermal bridge between the heat input surface of the cell and the structure supporting the evaporation zone. Test and analysis results are presented illustrating the magnitude of the power transfer to the evaporation zone and the effect of this power transfer on the performance of the cell. Comparisons are also made between the cell test data and analysis results of cell performance to validate the analytical models.