Design of small Stirling Dynamic Isotope Power System for robotic space missions

Conference · Sat Jan 09 23:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43224· OSTI ID:5535308

Bents, D J; Schreiber, J G; Withrow, C A; McKissock, B I ^[1]; Schmitz, P C ^[2]

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1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 (United States)
2. Sverdrup Technology, Inc., Lewis Research Center Group, Brook Park, Ohio 44142 (United States)

Design of a multihundred-watt Dynamic Isotope Power System (DIPS) based on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) and small (multihundred-watt) free-piston Stirling engine (FPSE) technology is being pursued as a potential lower cost alternative to radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG's). The design is targeted at the power needs of future unmanned deep space and planetary surface exploration missions ranging from scientific probes to Space Exploration Initiative precursor missions. Power level for these missions is less than a kilowatt. Unlike previous DIPS designs which were based on turbomachinery conversion (e.g. Brayton), this small Stirling DIPS can be advantageously scaled down to multihundred-watt unit size while preserving size and mass competitiveness with RTGs. Preliminary characterization of units in the output power ranges 200--600 We indicate that on an electrical watt basis the GPHS/small Stirling DIPS will be roughly equivalent to an advanced RTG in size and mass but require less than a third of the isotope inventory.

• OSTI ID: 5535308
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Vol. 271:1; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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