Recent advances in silicon-germanium alloy technology and an assessment of the problems of building the modules for a radioisotope thermo-electric generator
✍ Scribed by D.M. Rowe
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1987
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 953 KB
- Volume
- 19
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0378-7753
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✦ Synopsis
This paper reviews the state of the art of silicon-germanium technology and assesses the problems of building thermoelectric modules in Europe, based upon silicon-germanium alloys, for use in a multihundred watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator. The generator developed in the United States for the International Solar Polar mission has been used as a reference system. The essential features of an alternative b$kfXn, which employs thermocouples fabricated from improved silicon-germanium alloys based upon a design by the Fairchild Space and Electronics Company, is also described.
It is concluded that although the fabrication of reliable electrical contacts will present a major problem, the technology is available in Europe to build thermoelectric modules similar to those developed for the Intemational Solar Polar mission. *This paper is based on a report prepared for UKAEA, Harwell, under a European Space Energy Contract No. 4455/80/NL/JS/SC.