Space reactor/Stirling cycle systems for high power Lunar applications

Conference · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10181300

Schmitz, P D ^[1]; Mason, L S ^[2]

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

NASA`s Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) has proposed the use of high power nuclear power systems on the lunar surface as a necessary alternative to solar power. Because of the long lunar night ({approximately} 14 earth days) solar powered systems with the requisite energy storage in the form of regenerative fuel cells or batteries becomes prohibitively heavy at high power levels ({approximately} 100 kWe). At these high power levels nuclear power systems become an enabling technology for variety of missions. One way of producing power on the lunar surface is with an SP-100 class reactor coupled with Stirling power converters. In this study, analysis and characterization of the SP-100 class reactor coupled with Free Piston Stirling Power Conversion (FPSPC) system will be performed. Comparison of results with previous studies of other systems, particularly Brayton and Thermionic, are made.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI03-86SF16310
• OSTI ID: 10181300
• Report Number(s): NASA-TM-103698; CONF-910116-32; ON: DE94051230; TRN: 94:008303
• Resource Relation: Conference: 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems,Albuquerque, NM (United States),6-10 Jan 1991; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
DESIGN
STIRLING ENGINES
TESTING
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
REACTOR COMPONENTS
LUNA SPACE PROBES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600
330201
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE
STIRLING CYCLE