skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Initial tests of thermoacoustic space power engine.

Abstract

Future NASA deep-space missions will require radioisotope-powered electric generators that are just as reliable as current RTGs, but more efficient and of higher specific power (Wikg). Thennoacoustic engines at the -1-kW scale have converted high-temperature heat into acoustic, or PV, power without moving parts at 30% efficiency. Consisting of only tubes and a few heat exchangers, thennoacoustic engines are low mass and promise to be highly reliable. Coupling a thennoacoustic engine to a low mass, highly reliable and efficient linear alternator will create a heat-driven electric generator suitable for deep-space applications. Conversion efficiency data will be presented on a demonstration thennoacoustic engine designed for the 1 00-Watt power range.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Scott N.
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
976353
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-02-5975
Journal ID: ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: US1006882
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Journal Volume: 654; Conference: Submitted to: Space Technology and Applications International Forum
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; ALTERNATORS; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRIC GENERATORS; ENGINES; HEAT EXCHANGERS; NASA; POWER RANGE; RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems

Citation Formats

Backhaus, S N. Initial tests of thermoacoustic space power engine.. United States: N. p., 2002. Web. doi:10.1063/1.1541350.
Backhaus, S N. Initial tests of thermoacoustic space power engine.. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1541350
Backhaus, S N. 2002. "Initial tests of thermoacoustic space power engine.". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1541350. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/976353.
@article{osti_976353,
title = {Initial tests of thermoacoustic space power engine.},
author = {Backhaus, S N},
abstractNote = {Future NASA deep-space missions will require radioisotope-powered electric generators that are just as reliable as current RTGs, but more efficient and of higher specific power (Wikg). Thennoacoustic engines at the -1-kW scale have converted high-temperature heat into acoustic, or PV, power without moving parts at 30% efficiency. Consisting of only tubes and a few heat exchangers, thennoacoustic engines are low mass and promise to be highly reliable. Coupling a thennoacoustic engine to a low mass, highly reliable and efficient linear alternator will create a heat-driven electric generator suitable for deep-space applications. Conversion efficiency data will be presented on a demonstration thennoacoustic engine designed for the 1 00-Watt power range.},
doi = {10.1063/1.1541350},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/976353}, journal = {},
issn = {0094-243X},
number = ,
volume = 654,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: