Radioisotope thermoelectric generator cooling in the Shuttle bayThe paper describes a Shuttle-integrated radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) that consists primarily of a pump package and plumbing connected directly to the Shuttle payload heat exchanger. The RTG utilizes on-board water evaporative cooling capability, which is normally used for ascent, entry, and for supplementing the radiators. Attention is given to the RTG cooling concepts which include: (1) an active thermal cooling system (ATCS), where two Freon-21 loops operate simultaneously to transport heat from the Orbiter subsystem and payloads through liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers and pin-fin coldplates to four heat sinks, and (2) an atmosphere revitalization system (ARS) which provides for thermal, pressure, and contaminate control of the crew cabin and its equipment. The use of a payload heat exchanger to reduce weight, cost and complexity associated with an independent cooling system was investigated in detail.
Document ID
19790067923
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Stimpson, L. D. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Levine, D. I. (Rockwell International Corp. Downey, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1979
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference