| 摘要 |
An improved energy conversion device of the type comprising: (A) an anodic reaction zone, (i) which contains a molten alkali metal anode-reactant in electrical contact with an external circuit, and (ii) which is disposed interiorly of a tubular cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer; (B) a cathodic reaction zone (i) which is disposed exteriorly of said tubular cation-permeable barrier, and (ii) which contains an electrode which is in electrical contact with both said tubular cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit; (C) a reservoir for said molten alkali metal which is adapted to supply said anode-reactant to said anodic reaction zone; and (D) a tubular ceramic header (i) which connects said reservoir with said anodic reaction zone so as to allow molten alkali metal to flow from said reservoir to said anodic reaction zone, (ii) which is sealed to said tubular cation-permeable barrier, and (iii) which is impervious and nonconductive so as to preclude both ionic and electronic current leakage between the alkali metal reservoir and the cathodic reaction zone. The improvement of the invention comprises a lap joint seal between the tubular ceramic header and said tubular cation-permeable barrier which is formed by (1) disposing the end portion of a first one of said tubes, which has been sintered to final density, inside the end portion of the second of said tubes which (i) is not sintered to final density, (ii) has an inner diameter in the unsintered state greater than the outer diameter of said first tube, and (iii) upon being sintered to final density is adapted to shrink to the extent that the inner diameter thereof is at least 0.002 inches less than the outer diameter of said first tube; and (2) sintering said second tube to shrink the same and effect a seal between said first and second tubes. |
