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Diffusion of hydrogen in solids is an intriguing intellectual problem. Permeation of hydrogen generated in combustion into gas fired Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) systems can be detrimental to AMTEC performance for various reasons. Potential effects include depriming of the AMTEC cell arteries, blockage of the condenser and hydride formation. Numerous papers and reports have been published concerning hydrogen diffusion in solids (Birnbaum and Wert, 1972; Garber, 1975; Strehlow and Savage, 1974). Many of these papers concern the embrittling effects of hydrogen and many concern the diffusion process itself. Hydrogen permeation and permeation resisting strategies have been examined extensively in connection with other energy conversion technologies such as Stirling engines (Alger, 1988; Khalili etal., 1989) and high temperature heat pipes (Anderson et al., 1995; North and Anderson, 1997).

AMTEC systems have historically been operated with sodium as the working fluid, in large part because fabrication of beta”-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) membranes has been substantially easier with sodium than with potassium or other alkali metals1. It has been anticipated that because potassium has a substantially higher vapor pressure for a given temperature, and because the best K-BASE conductivity falls only marginally below that for Na-BASE, potassium AMTEC cells could produce higher power at a given temperature or comparable power at a lower temperature than similar sodium cells. Operation at lower temperatures can reduce materials lifetime or compatibility problems, and for severely heat input constrained systems it could enhance efficiency by reducing parasitic thermal conduction losses. Recently K-BASE tubes have become available as a commercial product2 and conventional experiments to evaluate the performance of complete KAMTEC cells have become much more feasible.

The Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) technology can provide static energy conversion at efficiencies between 15 and 30%. Most of these devices reach this efficiency by operating at temperatures near 1100 K or above. High efficiency at lower temperatures is, however, feasible. Experiments and supporting analysis show that 15-20% could be achieved at 925 K by minimizing parasitic losses and using sodium molybdate enhanced electrodes. The sodium molybdate in these enhanced electrodes evaporates from the electrode within 10 to 100 hours at 1100 K, but the molybdate enhancement may last for several years at 925 K.

The Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) is a static energy conversion technology that is expected to provide low mass thermal to electric conversion with efficiencies between 20 and 35%. The US program to develop this technology for space power applications has grown substantially over the past 3 years. This expanding program has brought together several laboratories and technical consultants, in separately sponsored projects, to develop the key elements of the technology. An assessment of this multi-party program indicates that, in general, the effort has focused on the high priority technical elements with only moderate overlap between individual projects. There are, however, several areas where additional coordination is needed between major participants in the existing projects, and other areas where new projects should be started, in order to provide reliable space power systems without unnecessary delays.