MULTI-FOIL thermal insulation for the Dynamic Isotope Power System

Author

Determan, W.R. ; Emmons, J. ; Huffman, F.N. ; Dunlay, J. ; Wortham, D. ; Field, G.

Author_Institution

Rockwell Int., Canoga Park, CA, USA

fYear

1989

fDate

6-11 Aug 1989

Firstpage

1115

Abstract

A study is presented of the Dynamic Isotope Power System (DIPS), which utilizes MULTI-FOIL insulation around its heat sources in order to minimize thermal losses, reduce weight, and provide emergency cooling in the event of a power conversion subsystem malfunction. DIPS uses a closed Brayton power conversion cycle to convert the isotope decay heat to electrical power. Temperatures within the heat source assembly are maintained at 760-815°C (1400-1500°F) throughout the system lifetime by the MULTI-FOIL insulation. Melting of the MULTI-FOIL insulation provides a passive means of reducing the thermal insulation effectiveness and limiting the heat source temperature rise following a power conversion subsystem malfunction. This work reviews the DIPS MULTI-FOIL insulation design and the testing being conducted to demonstrate feasibility of the design approach are reviewed

Keywords

space vehicle power plants; thermal insulation; 700 to 815 degC; DIPS; Dynamic Isotope Power System; MULTI-FOIL thermal insulation; closed Brayton power conversion cycle; emergency cooling; heat source assembly; power conversion subsystem malfunction; space vehicle power plants; thermal losses; Cooling; Electronics packaging; Insulation; Isotopes; Power conversion; Power system dynamics; Power systems; Temperature; Thermal conductivity; Thermal resistance;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1989. IECEC-89., Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IECEC.1989.74607

Filename

74607