AMTEC radioisotope power system for the Pluto Express mission

Conference · Sat Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:187028

Ivanenok, III, J F; Sievers, R K ^[1]

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1. Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

The Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) technology has made substantial advances in the last 3 years through design improvements and technical innovations. In 1993 programs began to produce an AMTEC cell specifically for the NASA Pluto Express Mission. A set of efficiency goals was established for this series of cells to be developed. According to this plan, cell {number_sign}8 would be 17% efficient but was actually 18% efficient. Achieving this goal, as well as design advances that allow the cell to be compact, has resulted in pushing the cell from an unexciting 2 W/kg and 2% efficiency to very attractive 40 W/kg and 18% measured efficiency. This paper will describe the design and predict the performance of a radioisotope powered AMTEC system for the Pluto Express mission.

• OSTI ID: 187028
• Report Number(s): CONF-950729--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DATA
DESIGN
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS