Douglas Noss Rodgers

Hydrogen burden from the steam side corrosion in sodium-heated steam generators

It has been observed that in sodium-heated steam generators most of the hydrogen produced from water- or steam-side corrosion permeates into the secondary sodium. The amount of hydrogen that diffuses into the secondary side is extremely important from the standpoint of the design of the cold trap, hydrogen background levels, and tritium concentrations in the secondary system. We have compiled all the available data on H/sub 2/ permeation from all operating sodium-heated steam generators. In addition, based on the available steam-side corrosion data, we have made tentative recommendations: Steady-state H/sub 2/ flux, (1) Evaporator (2/sup 1///sub 4/ Cr--1 Mo)--1.8 to 2.2 x 10/sup -11/ g H/cm/sup 2/.s. (2) Superheater (2/sup 1///sub 4/ Cr--1 Mo)--1.2 to 1.7 x 10/sup -11/ g H/cm/sup 2/.s. Initial H/sub 2/ flux (up to 2000 h): Evaporator and superheater (2/sup 1///sub 4/ Cr--1 Mo)--approximately 7 to 8 x 10/sup -11/ g H/cm/sup 2/.s.

HUTEC a high efficiency thermally regenerative fuel cell for space applications

The Hydrogen Thermo‐Electrochemical Converter (HYTEC) is an improved means of thermal‐to‐electrical energy conversion for space or other remote locations. The system is based on a fuel cell where the fuel element, hydrogen gas, is regenerated from the fuel cell product, metal hydrides. The HYTEC work at General Electric has resulted in a system concept design and supporting experimental data. Unique features in the system include the use of a niobium‐titanium alloy for the electrodes and a lithium‐sodium mixture to transport the hydride reaction product. Experimental data to date has shown the feasibility of the concept.