Overview of NASA Lewis Research Center free-piston Stirling engine activities
An overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center (LeRC) free-piston Stirling engine activities is presented. These include (1) a generic free-piston Stirling technology project being conducted to develop technologies generic to both space power and terrestrial heat pump applications in a cooperative, cost-shared effort with the Department of Energy (DOE)/Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); and (2) a free-piston Stirling space power technology feasibility demonstration project being conducted in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), DOE, NASA, SP-100 project. The generic technology effort includes extensive parametric testing of a 1 kW free-piston Stirling engine (RE-1000), development of a free-piston Stirling performance computer code, design and fabrication under contract of a hydraulic output modification for RE-1000 engine tests, and a 1000-hour endurance test, under contract, of a 3 kWe free-piston Stirling/alternator engine. The newly initiated space power technology feasibility demonstration effort addresses the capability of scaling a free-piston Stirling/alternator system to about 25 kWe; developing thermodynamic cycle efficiency greater than or equal to 70 percent of Carnot at temperature ratios in the order of 1.5 to 2.0; achieving a power conversion unit specific weight of 6 kg/kWe; operating with noncontacting gas bearings; and dynamically balancing the system. Planned engine and component design and test efforts are described.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI05-82OR21005
- OSTI ID:
- 6901254
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NASA-1005-2; NASA-TM-83649; CONF-840804-3; ON: DE84010761
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Overview of free-piston Stirling technology at the NASA Lewis Research Center
Overview of the 1986 free-piston Stirling SP-100 activities at the NASA Lewis Research Center
Related Subjects
330201* -- External Combustion Engines-- Stirling Cycle
DIAGRAMS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HEAT ENGINES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PISTONS
POWER SUPPLIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVIEWS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
STIRLING ENGINES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TESTING