NASA chooses hybrid power system for Space Station

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Aerosp. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5092057

Holt, D J

The hybrid solar power system being developed for the Space Station is characterized. Major components of the 75-kW system required for the initial operational phase of the Station are 25-kW photovoltaic arrays (with Ni-H storage batteries for eclipse-phase power and some means of conversion to ac for distribution) and a 50-kW solar dynamic system comprising a reflecting concentrator, a thermal-energy storage unit, and a heat engine based either on an organic Rankine cycle (described by Holt, 1985) or on a closed Brayton cycle. The design and operating principle of a Brayton-cycle engine using an He-Xe mixture as the working fluid, gas-foil journal bearings, an LiF/MgF2 thermal-storage unit, and a 95-percent-effectiveness plate-fin-type recuperator are described and illustrated with drawings. This engine is designed to operate at 25,000-50,000 rpm with overall day/night cycle efficiency 27.6 percent for 95-min orbits, and to be restartable under zero-g conditions.

• OSTI ID: 5092057
• Journal Information: Aerosp. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
TOTAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
BRAYTON CYCLE
CONCENTRATORS
DESIGN
HYBRID SYSTEMS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RANKINE CYCLE
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
140704* - Solar Thermal Power Systems- Total Energy & Hybrid Systems- (1980-)