Isotope powered Stirling generator for terrestrial applications

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:33069

Tingey, G L; Sorensen, G C ^[1]; Ross, B A ^[2]

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1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
2. Stirling Technology Co., Richland, WA (United States)

An electric power supply, small enough to be man-portable, is being developed for remote, terrestrial applications. This system is designed for an operating lifetime of five years without maintenance or refueling. A small Radioisotope Stirling Generator (RSG) has been developed. The energy source of the generator is a 60 watt plutonium-238 fuel clad used in the General Purpose Heat Sources (GPHS) developed for space applications. A free piston Stirling Engine drives a linear alternator to convert the heat to power. The system weighs about 7.5 kg and produces 11 watts AC power with a conversion efficiency of 18.5%. Two engine models have been designed, fabricated, and tested to date: (a) a developmental model instrumented to confirm and test parameters, and (b) an electrically heated model with an electrical heater equipped power input leads. Critical components have been tested for 10,000 to 20,000 hours. One complete generator has been operating for over 11,000 hours. Radioisotope heated prototypes are expected to be fabricated and tested in late 1995.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 33069
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA--25194; CONF-950110--19; ON: DE95008932
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
42 ENGINEERING
DESIGN
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLUTONIUM 238
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
STIRLING ENGINES
THERMAL EFFICIENCY