Space Nuclear Power: Opening the Final Frontier

Bennett, Gary L.

doi:10.2514/6.2006-4191

Cited by 53 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…10,11 Variations of the RTGs on the Viking Landers have been on every interplanetary mission, either as a supplemental power supply or, as the main power supply. 12 Bass et al 13 describe a 1-kilowatt thermoelectric generator for terrestrial diesel engines. Ikoma et al 14 reported a generator to use with gasoline engines.…”

Section: Iia Prior Work On Thermoelectric Conversionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Thermoelectric and Thermophotovoltaic Micro-Renewable Power Systems for Home Use

Srivastava

Pinder

Shah

et al. 2012

10th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Terrestrial mass-market needs for off-grid power generators offer applications and challenges for space research. Synergy between research on extraterrestrial in situ resource exploitation, and research on terrestrial mass-market needs for standalone power generators, offers avenues to advance both, with large potential impact on the quality of life. The technologies have been shown to work. However, closing the business case for such devices requires careful definition of requirements and attention to a wide array of issues. In this paper, two systems derived from space technology are discussed. The first is a thermoelectric generator for use with rudimentary wood stoves. This is designed to produce enough power for a fan to augment air flow through the stove, a DC LED floodlamp for steady lighting, and an ultraviolet LED water purifier. The power budget for this system will close well under the 10-watt level that is projected for a single semiconductor thermoelectric generator; however serious challenges remain in active thermal control. The second system is a thermophotovoltaic generator for use with trash incinerators sized for middle class families or neighborhoods. Radiation from ceramic emitters placed in the incinerator is concentrated and filtered into a set of photovoltaic cells tuned to the radiation spectrum. Power levels of several tens to hundreds of watts have already been demonstrated from such systems.

show abstract

Section: Iia Prior Work On Thermoelectric Conversionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Thermoelectric and Thermophotovoltaic Micro-Renewable Power Systems for Home Use

Srivastava

Pinder

Shah

et al. 2012

10th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This protocell designed for maximum energy density (6.9 × 10 6 J·m −3 , i.e., 1.92 W·h·kg −1 ) has an energy conversion efficiency of 10%. Ragone chart comparing the natural electrocyte, AC protocells, and DC protocells with conventional batteries, capacitors, and other energy conversion devices, including piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic devices (data for these other devices from [28,85,86,[88][89][90]). The AC protocell performance is described by a parallelogram; the bottom edge indicates the performance of AC protocells from initial design parameters (i.e., the natural electrocyte, marked with " ") to the optimal design parameters (marked with "+") at 1 h continuous output; the top edge indicates the performance of AC protocells at 10 h continuous output; the left and right sides reflect the performance of AC protocells spanning from 1 h to 10 h.…”

Section: Electrogenic Performance Of Protocellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Conversion in Protocells with Natural Nanoconductors

Vanderlick

LaVan

2012

International Journal of Photoenergy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While much nanotechnology leverages solid-state devices, here we present the analysis of designs for hybrid organic-inorganic biomimetic devices, "protocells," based on assemblies of natural ion channels and ion pumps, "nanoconductors," incorporated into synthetic supported lipid bilayer membranes. These protocells mimic the energy conversion scheme of natural cells and are able to directly output electricity. The electrogenic mechanisms have been analyzed and designs were optimized using numerical models. The parameters that affect the energy conversion are quantified, and limits for device performance have been found using numerical optimization. The electrogenic performance is compared to conventional and emerging technologies and plotted on Ragone charts to allow direct comparisons. The protocell technologies summarized here may be of use for energy conversion where large-scale ion concentration gradients are available (such as the intersection of fresh and salt water sources) or small-scale devices where low power density would be acceptable.

show abstract

“…[1][2][3][4] and case studies of spacecraft using these power sources [5][6][7]. Readers are referred to one of the many recent reviews [e.g.…”

Section: Scopementioning

confidence: 99%

A conceptual spacecraft radioisotope thermoelectric and heating unit (RTHU)

Williams

Ambrosi

Bannister

et al. 2011

Int. J. Energy Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY Spacecraft venturing to the outer planets and beyond—or onto the planetary surface where available solar energy is reduced—benefit from the longevity and consistency of electrical and thermal energy derived from radioisotope energy sources. A review of likely mission requirements and concept studies of small electrical generating units (<10 We) reveals a potential opportunity for a unit with an electrical output of around 1 We that can also supply some heat to the spacecraft to aid thermal control: a radioisotope thermoelectric and heating unit. This power requirement cannot be achieved with current US space‐qualified modular radioisotope fuel assemblies. Additionally, new European programmes consider 241Am fuel to be much more cost effective than 238Pu. Taken together, these factors provide the rationale for taking a relatively ‘clean‐sheet’ approach to design of a radioisotope thermoelectric and heating unit fuelled with 241Am. In this paper, initial requirements and performance targets for such a unit are developed, a simple concept design and thermal model is presented and the performance and mass are estimated. The results suggest that units generating 1–2 We may achieve a specific power of around 0.7–0.9 We kg−1 without the thermal inputs to spacecraft becoming impractically large. Such units can use a bismuth telluride thermoelectric material, which is commercially applied in terrestrial applications and is therefore likely to incur lower cost and development risk than more specialised compounds. This study may form the basis of a more detailed design effort. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Space Nuclear Power: Opening the Final Frontier

Cited by 53 publications

References 8 publications

Thermoelectric and Thermophotovoltaic Micro-Renewable Power Systems for Home Use

Thermoelectric and Thermophotovoltaic Micro-Renewable Power Systems for Home Use

Energy Conversion in Protocells with Natural Nanoconductors

A conceptual spacecraft radioisotope thermoelectric and heating unit (RTHU)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About