Title :
Free piston space Stirling technology program
Author :
Dochat, G.R. ; Dhar, M.
Author_Institution :
Mech. Technol. Inc., Latham, NY, USA
Abstract :
MTI recently completed an initial technology feasibility program for NASA by designing, fabricating and testing a space power demonstrator engine (SPDE). This program, which confirms the potential of free-piston Stirling engines, provided the major impetus to initiate a free-piston Stirling space engine (SSE) technology program. The accomplishments of the SPDE program are reviewed, and an overview of the SSE technology program and technical status to date is provided. It is shown that progress in both programs continues to justify its potential for either nuclear or solar space power missions
Keywords :
heat engines; space vehicle power plants; NASA; free-piston Stirling space engine; nuclear space power missions; solar space power missions; space power demonstrator engine; Contracts; Heat engines; NASA; Pistons; Prototypes; Space heating; Space technology; Stirling engines; Temperature; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1989. IECEC-89., Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1989.74568
