Download or read book Small radioisotope power system testing at NASA Glenn Research Center written by Gina Dugala and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 21 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Radioisotope Power Systems written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-08-14 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
Download or read book Test program for Stirling radioisotope generator hardware at NASA Glenn Research Center written by Gary S. Bolotin and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 15 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Advanced Stirling Convertor Testing at NASA Glenn Research Center written by National Aeronaut Administration (Nasa) and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-28 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMSS), Sunpower Inc., and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been developing an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) for use as a power system on space science and exploration missions. This generator will make use of the free-piston Stirling convertors to achieve higher conversion efficiency than currently available alternatives. The ASRG will utilize two Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASC) to convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source to electricity. NASA GRC has initiated several experiments to demonstrate the functionality of the ASC, including: in-air extended operation, thermal vacuum extended operation, and ASRG simulation for mobile applications. The in-air and thermal vacuum test articles are intended to provide convertor performance data over an extended operating time. These test articles mimic some features of the ASRG without the requirement of low system mass. Operation in thermal vacuum adds the element of simulating deep space. This test article is being used to gather convertor performance and thermal data in a relevant environment. The ASRG simulator was designed to incorporate a minimum amount of support equipment, allowing integration onto devices powered directly by the convertors, such as a rover. This paper discusses the design, fabrication, and implementation of these experiments. Oriti, Salvatore M. and Blaze, Gina M. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2007-215010, AIAA Paper-2007-4840, E-16190 STIRLING CYCLE; RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES; THERMOELECTRIC POWER GENERATION; ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; ALTERNATING CURRENT; THERMAL VACUUM TESTS; SIMULATION; AEROSPACE SYSTEMS; PROPULSION SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Download or read book Advanced Stirling Convertor Testing at Nasa Glenn Research Center written by Nasa Technical Reports Server (Ntrs) and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-07 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMSS), Sunpower Inc., and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been developing an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) for use as a power system on space science and exploration missions. This generator will make use of the free-piston Stirling convertors to achieve higher conversion efficiency than currently available alternatives. The ASRG will utilize two Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASC) to convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source to electricity. NASA GRC has initiated several experiments to demonstrate the functionality of the ASC, including: in-air extended operation, thermal vacuum extended operation, and ASRG simulation for mobile applications. The in-air and thermal vacuum test articles are intended to provide convertor performance data over an extended operating time. These test articles mimic some features of the ASRG without the requirement of low system mass. Operation in thermal vacuum adds the element of simulating deep space. This test article is being used to gather convertor performance and thermal data in a relevant environment. The ASRG simulator was designed to incorporate a minimum amount of support equipment, allowing integration onto devices powered directly by the convertors, such as a rover. This paper discusses the design, fabrication, and implementation of these experiments.
Download or read book Update on Extended Operation of Stirling Convertors in Thermal Vacuum at NASA Glenn Research Center written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-24 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMSS), Infinia Corporation, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have been developing a Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) for use as a power system on space science missions. This generator would make use of Stirling cycle energy conversion to achieve higher efficiency than currently used alternatives. A test has been initiated at GRC to demonstrate functionality of Stirling conversion in a thermal vacuum environment over an extended period of time. The test article resembles the configuration of the SRG, but was designed without the requirement of low mass. Throughout the 8700 cumulative hours of operation, modifications to the supporting hardware were required to attain the desired operating conditions. These modifications, the status of testing, and the data recorded will be discussed in this paper. Oriti, Salvatore M. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2006-214424, E-15701, AIAA Paper-2006-4062
Download or read book Radioisotope Power Systems written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-07-14 with total page 69 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spacecraft require electrical energy. This energy must be available in the outer reaches of the solar system where sunlight is very faint. It must be available through lunar nights that last for 14 days, through long periods of dark and cold at the higher latitudes on Mars, and in high-radiation fields such as those around Jupiter. Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are the only available power source that can operate unconstrained in these environments for the long periods of time needed to accomplish many missions, and plutonium-238 (238Pu) is the only practical isotope for fueling them. Plutonium-238 does not occur in nature. The committee does not believe that there is any additional 238Pu (or any operational 238Pu production facilities) available anywhere in the world.The total amount of 238Pu available for NASA is fixed, and essentially all of it is already dedicated to support several pending missions-the Mars Science Laboratory, Discovery 12, the Outer Planets Flagship 1 (OPF 1), and (perhaps) a small number of additional missions with a very small demand for 238Pu. If the status quo persists, the United States will not be able to provide RPSs for any subsequent missions.
Download or read book ALSEP Termination Report written by James R. Bates and published by . This book was released on 1979 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cold end Subsystem Testing for the Fission Power System Technology Demonstration Unit written by Maxwell H. Briggs and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Reliability Based Life Assessment of Stirling Convertor Heater Head written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-24 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Onboard radioisotope power systems being developed and planned for NASA's deep-space missions require reliable design lifetimes of up to 14 yr. The structurally critical heater head of the high-efficiency Stirling power convertor has undergone extensive computational analysis of operating temperatures, stresses, and creep resistance of the thin-walled Inconel 718 bill of material. A preliminary assessment of the effect of uncertainties in the material behavior was also performed. Creep failure resistance of the thin-walled heater head could show variation due to small deviations in the manufactured thickness and in uncertainties in operating temperature and pressure. Durability prediction and reliability of the heater head are affected by these deviations from nominal design conditions. Therefore, it is important to include the effects of these uncertainties in predicting the probability of survival of the heater head under mission loads. Furthermore, it may be possible for the heater head to experience rare incidences of small temperature excursions of short duration. These rare incidences would affect the creep strain rate and, therefore, the life. This paper addresses the effects of such rare incidences on the reliability. In addition, the sensitivities of variables affecting the reliability are quantified, and guidelines developed to improve the reliability are outlined. Heater head reliability is being quantified with data from NASA Glenn Research Center's accelerated benchmark testing program. Shah, Ashwin R. and Halford, Gary R. and Korovaichuk, Igor Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2004-213077, E-14553
Download or read book Effect of Random Thermal Spikes on Stirling Convertor Heater Head Reliability written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-21 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Onboard radioisotope power systems being developed to support future NASA exploration missions require reliable design lifetimes of up to 14 yr and beyond. The structurally critical heater head of the high-efficiency developmental Stirling power convertor has undergone extensive computational analysis of operating temperatures (up to 650 C), stresses, and creep resistance of the thin-walled Inconel 718 bill of material. Additionally, assessment of the effect of uncertainties in the creep behavior of the thin-walled heater head, the variation in the manufactured thickness, variation in control temperature, and variation in pressure on the durability and reliability were performed. However, it is possible for the heater head to experience rare incidences of random temperature spikes (excursions) of short duration. These incidences could occur randomly with random magnitude and duration during the desired mission life. These rare incidences could affect the creep strain rate and therefore the life. The paper accounts for these uncertainties and includes the effect of such rare incidences, random in nature, on the reliability. The sensitivities of variables affecting the reliability are quantified and guidelines developed to improve the reliability are outlined. Furthermore, the quantified reliability is being verified with test data from the accelerated benchmark tests being conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Shah, Ashwin R. and Korovaichuk, Igor and Halford, Gary R. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2004-213368, AIAA Paper 2004-5507, E-14836
Download or read book Electrical Devices and Circuits for Low Temperature Space Applications written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-20 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The environmental temperature in many NASA missions, such as deep space probes and outer planetary exploration, is significantly below the range for which conventional commercial-off-the-shelf electronics is designed. Presently, spacecraft operating in the cold environment of such deep space missions carry a large number of radioisotope or other heating units in order to maintain the surrounding temperature of the on-board electronics at approximately 20 C. Electronic devices and circuits capable of operation at cryogenic temperatures will not only tolerate the harsh environment of deep space but also will reduce system size and weight by eliminating or reducing the heating units and their associate structures; thereby reducing system development cost as well as launch costs. In addition, power electronic circuits designed for operation at low temperatures are expected to result in more efficient systems than those at room temperature. This improvement results from better behavior in the electrical and thermal properties of some semiconductor and dielectric materials at low temperatures. An on-going research and development program on low temperature electronics at the NASA Glenn Research Center focuses on the development of efficient electrical systems and circuits capable of surviving and exploiting the advantages of low temperature environments. An overview of the program will be presented in this paper. A description of the low temperature test facilities along with selected data obtained from in-house component testing will also be discussed. On-going research activities that are being performed in collaboration with various organizations will also be presented. Patterson, R. L. and Hammond, A. and Dickman, J. E. and Gerber, S. and Overton, E. and Elbuluk, M. Glenn Research Center; Goddard Space Flight Center NASA/TM-2003-212600, E-14159, NAS 1.15:212600
Download or read book Test Rack Development for Extended Operation of Advanced Stirling Convertors at NASA Glenn Research Center written by Gina M. Dugala and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 10 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book NASA GRC Technology Development Project for a Stirling Radioisotope Power System written by Lanny G. Thieme and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Development of Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Impact Testing of a Stirling Converter s Linear Alternator written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-19 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in conjunction with the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center and Stirling Technology Company, are currently developing a Stirling convertor for a Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG). NASA Headquarters and DOE have identified the SRG for potential use as an advanced spacecraft power system for future NASA deep-space and Mars surface missions. Low-level dynamic impact tests were conducted at NASA Glenn Research Center's Structural Dynamics Laboratory as part of the development of this technology. The purpose of this test was to identify dynamic structural characteristics of the Stirling Technology Demonstration Convertor (TDC). This paper addresses the test setup, procedure, and results of the impact testing conducted on the Stirling TDC in May 2001. Suarez, Vicente J. and Goodnight, Thomas W. and Hughes, William O. and Samorezov, Sergey Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2002-211342, NAS 1.15:211342, E-13156
Download or read book SBIR Success Stories at NASA Glenn Research Center written by and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
