Stirling converters for space dynamic power concepts with 2 to 130 W{sub e} output

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:163387

Ross, B A ^[1]

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1. Stirling Technology Co., Richland, WA (United States)

Three innovative Stirling converter concepts are described. Two concepts are based on Pluto Fast Flyby (PFF) mission requirements, where two General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules provide the thermal input. The first concept (PFF2) considers a power system with two opposed Stirling converters; the second concept (PFF4) considers four opposed Stirling converters. For both concepts the Stirling converters are designed to vary their power production capability to compensate for the failure of one Stirling converter. While the net thermal efficiency of PFF4 is a few percentage points lower than PFF2, the total Stirling converter mass of PFF4 is half that for PFF2. The third concept (ITTI) is designed to supply 2 watts of power for weather stations on the Martian surface. The predicted thermal performance of the ITTI is low compared to PFF2 and PFF4, yet the ITTI concept offers significant advantages compared to currently available power systems at the 2-watt power level. All three concepts are based on long-life technology demonstrated by an 11-watt output Stirling generator that as of March 1995 has accumulated over 15,000 operating hours without maintenance.

• OSTI ID: 163387
• Report Number(s): CONF-950729--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
42 ENGINEERING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
SPECIFICATIONS
STIRLING ENGINES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
USES
WATT POWER RANGE
WEIGHT