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The design and fabrication of a Stirling engine heat exchanger module with an integral heat pipeThe conceptual design of a free-piston Stirling Space Engine (SSE) intended for space power applications has been generated. The engine was designed to produce 25 kW of electric power with heat supplied by a nuclear reactor. A novel heat exchanger module was designed to reduce the number of critical joints in the heat exchanger assembly while also incorporating a heat pipe as the link between the engine and the heat source. Two inexpensive verification tests are proposed. The SSE heat exchanger module is described and the operating conditions for the module are outlined. The design process of the heat exchanger modules, including the sodium heat pipe, is briefly described. Similarities between the proposed SSE heat exchanger modules and the LeRC test modules for two test engines are presented. The benefits and weaknesses of using a sodium heat pipe to transport heat to a Stirling engine are discussed. Similarly, the problems encountered when using a true heat pipe, as opposed to a more simple reflux boiler, are described. The instruments incorporated into the modules and the test program are also outlined.
Document ID
19890027819
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Schreiber, Jeffrey G.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1988
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Meeting Information
Meeting: 1988 IECEC
Location: Denver, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: July 31, 1988
End Date: August 5, 1988
Accession Number
89A15190
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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