Title :
Advanced conversion technologies for small-scale remote power systems
Author_Institution :
Wright Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
Abstract :
Forest fires that endangered remote US Air Force sites equipped with radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) prompted the assessment of power generating systems that could be substituted for RTGs in small scale (10-120 W) applications. Other nonRTG sites were also studied during the assessment. The power system assessment was conducted by the US Air Forces Wright Laboratory and included the evaluation of engine-driven generators, solar, wind generators, propane thermoelectric generators (TEGs), batteries, fuel cells, and power systems based on advanced conversion technologies; such as, thermionics, free piston Stirling engines (FPSE), alkali metal thermoelectric conversion (AMTEC) and thermophotovoltaics (TPV). This paper summarizes the assessment of some of the more attractive power systems that are based on the advanced conversion technologies of AMTEC, TPV and FPSE
Keywords :
Stirling engines; alkali metals; alternators; photovoltaic cells; thermoelectric conversion; USA; advanced power conversion technologies; alkali metal thermoelectric conversion; free piston Stirling engines; power generating systems; propane thermoelectric generators; research efforts; small-scale remote power systems; thermophotovoltaics; Batteries; Fires; Power generation; Power systems; Radioactive materials; Solar power generation; Thermal force; Thermoelectricity; Wind energy generation; Wind power generation;
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1996. IECEC 96., Proceedings of the 31st Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3547-3
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1996.552853
