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Radioisotope Power System Pool ConceptAdvanced Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) for NASA deep space science missions have historically used static thermoelectric-based designs because they are highly reliable, and their radioisotope heat sources can be passively cooled throughout the mission life cycle. Recently, a significant effort to develop a dynamic RPS, the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), was conducted by NASA and the Department of Energy, because Stirling based designs offer energy conversion efficiencies four times higher than heritage thermoelectric designs; and the efficiency would proportionately reduce the amount of radioisotope fuel needed for the same power output. However, the long term reliability of a Stirling based design is a concern compared to thermoelectric designs, because for certain Stirling system architectures the radioisotope heat sources must be actively cooled via the dynamic operation of Stirling converters throughout the mission life cycle. To address this reliability concern, a new dynamic Stirling cycle RPS architecture is proposed called the RPS Pool Concept.
Document ID
20150002849
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Rusick, Jeffrey J.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Bolotin, Gary S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Date Acquired
March 13, 2015
Publication Date
February 23, 2015
Subject Category
Nuclear Physics
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN20513
Report Number: GRC-E-DAA-TN20513
Meeting Information
Meeting: Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2015)
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: February 23, 2015
End Date: February 26, 2015
Sponsors: National Nuclear Laboratory-Central Laboratory, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., American Nuclear Society
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 138494.01.99.06.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Power
Radioisotope
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