NOVELTY - An alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) cell (10) utilizes beta-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) tube (28) for preventing electrical shorting problems formerly associated with liquid anode operation.    USE - For preventing electrical shorting problems formerly associated with liquid anode operation.    ADVANTAGE - The converter has better electrical conduction to the BASE electrode and has the capability to use longer BASE tube as well as isothermal BASE tubes. It also has higher densities and a small but adequate temperature gradient, thus preventing any liquid alkali metal from shorting the BASE tube to a grounded component.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An alkali metal thermal to electric converter cell has low-pressure zone and a high pressure zone and comprises:    (a) a condenser communicating with the low-pressure zone for condensing metal vapor;    (b) a return channel to the condenser for directing the condensed alkali metal from the condenser toward the hot end of the AMTEC cell;    (c) an evaporator coupled to the return channel and communicating with the high-pressure zone for evaporating the condensed alkali metal into the high-pressure zone;    (d) a support plate coupled to the evaporator;    (e) an electrically nonconductive ceramic (NCE) coupled to the support plate; and    (f) a beta-alumina solid electrolyte tube separating the low-pressure and the high-pressure zones having a wick and has an alkali metal existing in a vapor and liquid state in its interior.    The alkali metal vapor condenses on a portion of the wick located on a first end of the BASE tube and the condensed alkali metal is wicked towards a second end of the BASE tube where the condensed alkali metal is vaporized to create a heat piping section. Preferred Features: The wick is constructed from a material selected from metal felts, mesh metal foams, porous sintered materials or grooved infrastructures. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a BASE tube for use in an AMTEC cell comprising a shell; and a wick on the inner surface of the shell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a perspective view in partial cross-section of an AMTEC cell having a BASE tube.    AMTEC cell (10)    BASE tube (28)