Development of Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator for Space Exploration

Chan, Jack; Wood, John; Schreiber, Jeffrey G.

doi:10.1063/1.2437500

Cited by 68 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Stirling converters for the Advanced Radioisotope Power Source have demonstrated 38 percent conversion efficiency 19,20 operating at 850°C hot-end temperature (Th) and a 90°C cold-end temperatures (Tc). This is slightly over 50% of the theoretical (Carnot) efficiency.…”

Section: Analysis Of Thermal Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar Power System Design for the Solar Probe+ Mission

Landis

Schmitz²,

Kinnison

et al. 2008

6th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Solar Probe+ is an ambitious mission proposed to the solar corona, designed to make a perihelion approach of 9 solar radii from the surface of the sun. The high temperature, high solar flux environment makes this mission a significant challenge for power system design. This paper summarizes the power system conceptual design for the solar probe mission. Power supplies considered included nuclear, solar thermoelectric generation, solar dynamic generation using Stirling engines, and solar photovoltaic generation. The solar probe mission ranges from a starting distance from the sun of 1 AU, to a minimum distance of about 9.5 solar radii, or 0.044 AU, from the center of the sun. During the mission, the solar intensity ranges from one to about 510 times AM0. This requires power systems that can operate over nearly three orders of magnitude of incident intensity. NomenclatureA r = Radiator area (m 2 ) I = incident intensity (W/m 2 ) P electric = power generated (W) R s = solar radius (696 000 km) T = temperature (K) Th = hot-end temperature of thermal conversion system (K) Tc = cold-end temperature of thermal conversion system (K) α = solar absorptivity (equal to 1 minus the reflectivity) ε f ,ε r = thermal (IR) emissivity of the front and rear surfaces η = conversion efficiency σ = Stefan-Boltzmann constant, 5.67×10

show abstract

Section: Analysis Of Thermal Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar Power System Design for the Solar Probe+ Mission

Landis

Schmitz²,

Kinnison

et al. 2008

6th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Beryllium fins are attached to the corners of the housing to provide extended surface Electric Heat Source (2) to reduce the temperature at which the waste heat is rejected and thus improve cycle efficiency. The 66 mm (2.6 in.)…”

Section: The Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (Asrg)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The development was redirected by NASA HQ in March 2006, to use the Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) that was being developed by Sunpower, Inc. under a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) contract with GRC (Wong, 2006). This change has resulted in the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) that is projected to have a specific power of 7.0 We/kg for the QU (Chan, 2007). The greater than twofold increase in specific power of the generator has been accomplished with as much heritage as possible being used in design and hardware from the SRG110 generator; therefore, the ASRG generator does not represent a system-level optimized design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GRC Supporting Technology for NASA's Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG)

Schreiber

Thieme²

2008

AIP Conference Proceedings

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Furthermore, the ASC needs to evolve to integrate into an existing baseline system design as the generator design existed prior to the convertor. 10 As currently planned, the next build, designated the ASC-E2, will change the heater head material from Inconel 718 to MarM-247. This will be followed by the ASC-E3 convertor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Technology at GRC to Mitigate Risk as Stirling Power Conversion Transitions to Flight

Schreiber

Thieme

Wong

2008

6th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stirling power conversion technology has been reaching more advanced levels of maturity during its development for space power applications. The current effort is in support of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), which is being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC), Sunpower Inc., and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). This generator would use two high-efficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs) to convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. Of paramount importance is the reliability of the power system and as a part of this, the Stirling power convertors. GRC has established a supporting technology effort with tasks in the areas of reliability, convertor testing, high-temperature materials, structures, advanced analysis, organics, and permanent magnets. The project utilizes the matrix system at GRC to make use of resident experts in each of the aforementioned fields. Each task is intended to reduce risk and enhance reliability of the convertor as this technology transitions toward flight status. This paper will provide an overview of each task, outline the recent efforts and accomplishments, and show how they mitigate risk and impact the reliability of the ASC's and ultimately, the ASRG. Nomenclature

show abstract

Development of Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator for Space Exploration

Cited by 68 publications

References 7 publications

Solar Power System Design for the Solar Probe+ Mission

Solar Power System Design for the Solar Probe+ Mission

GRC Supporting Technology for NASA's Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG)

Supporting Technology at GRC to Mitigate Risk as Stirling Power Conversion Transitions to Flight

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About