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A comparison of energy conversion systems for meeting the power requirements of manned rover for Mars missionsSeveral types of conversion systems of interest for a nuclear Mars manned application are examined, including: free-piston Stirling engines (FPSE), He/Xe closed Brayton cycle (CBC), CO2 open Brayton, and SiGe/GaP thermoelectric systems. Optimization studies were conducted to determine the impact of the conversion system on the overall mass of the nuclear power system and the mobility power requirement of the rover vehicle. The results of an analysis of a manned Mars rover equipped with a nuclear reactor power system show that the free-piston Stirling engine and the He/Xe closed Brayton cycle are the best available options for minimizing the overall mass and electric power requirements of the rover vehicle. While the current development of Brayton technology is further advanced than that of FPSE, the FPSE could provide approximately 13.5 percent lower mass than the He/Xe closed Brayton system. Results show that a specific mass of 160 is achievable with FPSE, for which the mass of the radiation shield (2.8 tons) is about half that for He/Xe CBC (5 tons).
Document ID
19910053309
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
El-Genk, Mohamed S.
(New Mexico Univ. Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Morley, Nicholas
(New Mexico, University Albuquerque, United States)
Cataldo, Robert
(New Mexico Univ. Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Bloomfield, Harvey
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Location: Reno, NV
Country: United States
Start Date: August 12, 1990
End Date: August 17, 1990
Accession Number
91A37932
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG3-992
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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