Full-size solar dynamic heat receiver thermal-vacuum tests
The testing of a full-size, 120 kW, solar dynamic heat receiver utilizing high-temperature thermal energy storage is described. The purpose of the test program was to quantify receiver thermodynamic performance, operating temperatures, and thermal response to changes in environmental and power module interface boundary conditions. The heat receiver was tested in a vacuum chamber with liquid nitrogen cold shrouds and an aperture cold plate to partly simulate a low-Earth-orbit environment. The cavity of the receiver was heated by an infrared quartz lamp heater with 30 independently controllable zones to allow axially and circumferentially varied flux distributions. A closed-Brayton cycle engine simulator conditioned a helium-xenon gas mixture to specific interface conditions to simulate the various operational modes of the solar dynamic power module on the Space Station Freedom. Inlet gas temperature, pressure, and flow rate were independently varied. A total of 58 simulated orbital cycles, each 94 minutes in duration, was completed during the test conduct period.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5292530
- Report Number(s):
- N-91-25184; NASA-TM-104486; E-6332; NAS-1.15:104486; CONF-910801-
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 26. intersociety energy conversion engineering (IECE) conference, Boston, MA (United States), 3-9 Aug 1991; Other Information: Sponsored by the American Nuclear Society, SAE, the American Chemical Society, AIAA, ASME, IEEE, and the American Inst. of Chemical Engineers
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
On-orbit performance prediction of the heat receiver for the U.S./Russia solar dynamic power flight experiment
Design, fabrication, and testing of a 30 kW{sub t} screen-wick heat- pipe solar receiver
Related Subjects
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
HEAT STORAGE
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
BRAYTON CYCLE
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
HELIUM
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
XENON
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HALIDES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GASES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM HALIDES
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
POWER PLANTS
RARE GASES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
140702* - Solar Thermal Power Systems- Central Receiver