Space reactor/Stirling cycle systems for high power lunar applications

Conference · Fri Jan 04 23:00:00 EST 1991 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.40161· OSTI ID:5373708

Schmitz, P C ^[1]; Mason, L S ^[2]

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1. Sverdrup Technology, Inc., 21000 Brookpark Rd., MS 301-5, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 (US)
2. NASA Lewis Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Rd., MS 501-6, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 (US)

It is desired to estimate performance and mass of a 550 kWe SP-100/Stirling nuclear power lunar base. Mass and efficiency estimates are made by modeling the components as a function of thermal or electrical power output requirements. It is found that utilizing a 1050 K heater head the total system mass is 13537 kg. For the 1300 K heater head temperature the system mass is 11474 kg. Mass and radiator area comparisons are made with a SP-100/Brayton and an Incore thermionic reactor. Two technology levels are looked at which correspond to low and high temperature systems (for the thermionic system it also includes a increase in thermionic output voltage). Stirling converter systems are the lightest of the low temperatures systems. At higher temperatures all of the systems masses are similar. Thermionic systems always produced the smallest radiators because of their high heat rejection temperature with Stirling systems coming in a close second.

• OSTI ID: 5373708
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Vol. 217:2; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220800* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Propulsion Reactors
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330201 -- External Combustion Engines-- Stirling Cycle
DESIGN
ENGINES
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
MOBILE REACTORS
MOON
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
POWER REACTORS
RADIATORS
REACTORS
SATELLITES
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE VEHICLE COMPONENTS
SPACE VEHICLES
STIRLING CYCLE
STIRLING ENGINES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
VEHICLES
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE