NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
A Power And Thermal System with Thermoelectric Generators At 930 C For Solar Probe Inside 0.1 AUThe Power System for Solar Probe is required to provide an electrical power of 100 W to 200 W over a wide range of radial distances from the Sun. The distance varies from 5.2 AU (i.e., Jupiter gravity assist orbit) and 4 solar radii. The solar intensity varies by nearly 5 orders of magnitude. Radioactive Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) is one way to meet the power requirement. However, the use of an RTG presents a politically expensive risk for the mission. An alternative is a totally non-nuclear and intrinsically conservative method, which uses mostly developed technologies. This paper presents an innovative concept, which uses thermoelectric generators with a high temperature cooling system to meet the power requirement inside 0. 1 AU. In this concept, Silicon Germanium (SiGe)/Gallium Phosphorus (GaP) thermoelectric generators use the infrared radiation from the spacecraft primary heat shield as an energy source, and a liquid sodium high temperature cooling system to maintain the SiGe/GaP thermoelectric generators at 1200 K. It allows a routine access by interplanetary probes to the innermost regions of the heliosphere, which is prudent to the scientific community.
Document ID
20010103196
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Choi, Michael K.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Powers, Edward I.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 8, 2001
Subject Category
Electronics And Electrical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
IECEC2001-TM-19
Meeting Information
Meeting: 36th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Location: Savannah, GA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 29, 2001
End Date: August 2, 2001
Sponsors: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available