MULTI-STAGE SODIUM HEAT ENGINE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT PRODUCTION

摘要

A multi-stage sodium heat engine is provided to convert thermal energy to electrical energy, the multi-stage sodium heat engine including at least a first stage, a second stage, and an electrical circuit operatively connecting the first stage and the second stage with an electrical load. One or more methods of powering an electrical load using a multi-stage sodium heat engine are also described.

主权项

1. A sodium heat engine comprising:
a first stage comprising a first porous anode and a first porous cathode separated by a first sodium conductive solid electrolyte, the first stage configured to provide expansion of a first stream of vaporized sodium from a pressure P4 to a pressure P3, where P4 is greater than P3, by ionizing the vaporized sodium to form sodium ions, the sodium ions being transferable through the first sodium conductive solid electrolyte, the first porous cathode reducing the sodium ions to form a second stream of vaporized sodium; a second stage comprising a second porous anode and a second porous cathode separated by a second sodium conductive solid electrolyte, the second stage operably connected to the first stage and configured to provide expansion of the second stream of vaporized sodium from a pressure P2 to a pressure P1, where P2 is greater than P1, by ionizing the vaporized sodium to form sodium ions, the sodium ions being transferrable through the second sodium conductive solid electrolyte, the second porous cathode reducing the sodium ions to form a third stream of vaporized sodium; and an electrical circuit operatively connecting the first porous anode and the second porous cathode with an electrical load.