Technology assessment of DOE´s 55-We Stirling Technology Demonstrator Convertor (TDC)

Author

Furlong, Richard ; Shaltens, Richard

Author_Institution

Dept. of Energy, Space & Defense Power Syst., Germantown, MD, USA

Volume

2

fYear

2000

fDate

2000

Firstpage

1213

Abstract

The Department of Energy (DOE), Germantown, MD and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), Cleveland, OH are developing a Stirling convertor for an advanced radioisotope power system as a potential power source for spacecraft on-board electric power for NASA deep space science missions. The Stirling convertor is being evaluated as an alternative high efficiency power source to replace radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Stirling Technology Company (STC), Kennewick, WA, is developing the highly efficient, long life 55-We free-piston Stirling convertor known as the Technology Demonstrator Convertor (TDC) under contract to DOE. GRC provides Stirling technology expertise under a space act agreement with the DOE. Lockheed Martin Astronautics (LMA), Valley Forge, PA is the current power system integrator for the Advanced Radioisotope Power System (ARPS) project for the DOE. JPL is responsible for the Outer Planets/Solar Probe Project for NASA

Keywords

Stirling engines; aerospace testing; space vehicle power plants; 55 W; Department of Energy; NASA deep space science missions; Outer Planets/Solar Probe Project; Stirling Technology Demonstrator Convertor; USA; advanced radioisotope power system; free-piston Stirling convertor; project; space power; spacecraft; technology assessment; Converters; NASA; Power generation; Power systems; Radioactive materials; Space missions; Space technology; Space vehicles; Thermoelectricity; US Department of Energy;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit, 2000. (IECEC) 35th Intersociety

Conference_Location

Las Vegas, NV

Print_ISBN

1-56347-375-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IECEC.2000.870933

Filename

870933