The Department of Energy (DOE) and the NASA Glenn Research Center are developing a Stirling converter for an advanced radioisotope power system to provide spacecraft onboard electric power for NASA deep space missions. This high-efficiency converter is being evaluated as an alternative to replace the much lower efficiency radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). The current power requirement (six years after beginning of mission (BOM) for a mission to Jupiter) is 210 W(sub e) (watts electric) to be generated by two separate power systems, one on each side of the spacecraft. Both two-converter and four-converter system designs are being considered, depending on the amount of required redundancy.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Parametric Study of Radiator Concepts for a Stirling Radioisotope Power System Applicable to Deep Space Mission


    Contributors:
    A. J. Juhasz (author) / R. C. Tew (author) / L. G. Thieme (author)

    Publication date :

    2000


    Size :

    40 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English






    Technology Development for a Stirling Radioisotope Power System for Deep Space Missions

    Thieme, Lanny G. / White, Maurice A. / Qiu, Songgang | SAE Technical Papers | 1999



    Power Characteristics of a Stirling Radioisotope Power System over the Life of the Mission

    Schreiber, J. G. / Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2001