Applicability of aircraft Brayton power technologies to future space power conversion systems

Although Brayton power conversion systems are considered a prime candidate for dynamic space power applications their continued development and deployment in the space arena has been hampered due to funding and market issues. Alternatively, Brayton power systems have enjoyed a long and successful use in aircraft power systems applications such as main gas turbine engines and auxiliary power units (APUs). The broad applicability of Brayton power systems to the commercial and military aircraft markets has provided fertile ground for the continued development and implementation of new technologies associated with turbomachinery, generators, bearing systems and electric power management and distribution (PMAD) systems. These continued developments in the aircraft markets provide a rich technology base to harvest in the design and development of a closed Brayton power conversion system applicable to future space based power conversion requirements such as those associated with nuclear electric propulsion. This paper provides an overview of aircraft based Brayton power system technologies with respect to the preliminary requirements of a notional state-of-the-art space power conversion system.