Solar AMTEC Thermal Absorber With Gravity Counterflow Regeneration

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solar AMTEC power systems employ complex mechanisms like pumps and wicks for regenerating condensed alkali metal, increasing costs and the likelihood of failure due to moving parts.

Innovation Solution

A thermal absorber with a light-transparent reservoir containing alkali metal, a housing with a thermal barrier wall dividing it into hot and cold chambers, and AMTEC cells extending through both, utilizing gravity-driven counterflow for alkali metal regeneration through a sump with a drain hole for fluid communication between chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex mechanisms like pumps and wicks are used for regenerating condensed alkali metal, then the regeneration function is achieved, but the device complexity and likelihood of failure increase due to moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes pumps and wicks from the system entirely, extracting the problematic moving parts and replacing them with a passive gravity-driven regeneration mechanism. The condensed alkali metal flows back to the hot side through gravity alone, eliminating the need for complex regeneration mechanisms and their associated moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the natural force of gravity to drive the regeneration of alkali metal without requiring external mechanical assistance. The condensed metal on the cold side automatically flows back to the hot side through gravity, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for powered regeneration components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If complex mechanisms like pumps and wicks are used for regenerating condensed alkali metal, then the regeneration function is achieved, but the cost of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes pumps and wicks from the system entirely, extracting the problematic moving parts and replacing them with a passive gravity-driven regeneration mechanism. The condensed alkali metal flows back to the hot side through gravity alone, eliminating the need for complex regeneration mechanisms and their associated moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the natural force of gravity to drive the regeneration of alkali metal without requiring external mechanical assistance. The condensed metal on the cold side automatically flows back to the hot side through gravity, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for powered regeneration components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If light-transparent reservoir is used to contain alkali metal, then solar energy can penetrate to heat the metal, but the housing must be sealed to maintain the thermal gradient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetemperatureVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reservoir containing the alkali metal with the housing structure itself. The light-transparent reservoir is sealingly coupled to the housing to define a single enclosed volume, merging the containment and thermal gradient maintenance functions into an integrated structure rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support, maintains the thermal gradient through its thermal barrier wall, and seals the enclosed volume containing the alkali metal. The thermal barrier wall itself defines both the chamber separation and the cell supporting surface, reducing the need for additional structural components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution simplifies the regeneration process, reducing costs and failure risks by using gravity-driven fluid flow for alkali metal recycling, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of solar AMTEC power systems.

Implementation Method 1

optical element, such as mirrors and lenses, to focus a large area of incoming sunlight into a concentrated location

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Implementation Method 2

thermal barrier wall that divides the volume into a cold chamber and a hot chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

gravity counterflow regeneration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8281783B2Thermal absorber with gravity counterflow regeneration for solar AMTEC power systems

Publication Date: 2012.10.09 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A thermal absorber including a light-transparent reservoir having an alkali metal received therein, a housing sealingly coupled to the reservoir to define an enclosed volume, the housing including a thermal barrier wall that divides the volume into a cold chamber and a hot chamber, the cold chamber including a sump having a drain hole in fluid communication with the hot chamber, and at least one AMTEC cell supported by the cell supporting surface, the AMTEC cell extending through the cold chamber and the hot chamber.