NASA GRC Stirling Technology Development Overview

TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
NASA GRC Stirling Technology Development Overview

AUTHOR(S):
Lanny G. Thieme and Jeffrey G. Schreiber

REPORT DATE:
August 2003

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WBS-22-896-50-01
WBS-22-755-12-14

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-13976

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Technical Memorandum

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA TM-2003-212454

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Prepared for the Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF-2003) cosponsored by the United States Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 2-5, 2003. Responsible person, Lanny G. Thieme, organization code 5490, 216-433-6119.

ABSTRACT:
The Department of Energy, Lockheed Martin (LM), Stirling Technology Company, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) are developing a high-efficiency Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) for potential NASA Space Science missions. The SRG is being developed for multimission use, including providing spacecraft onboard electric power for NASA deep space missions and power for unmanned Mars rovers. NASA GRC is conducting an in-house supporting technology project to assist in developing the Stirling convertor for space qualification and mission implementation. Preparations are underway for a thermal/vacuum system demonstration and unattended operation during endurance testing of the 55-We Technology Demonstration Convertors. Heater head life assessment efforts continue, including verification of the heater head brazing and heat treatment schedules and evaluation of any potential regenerator oxidation. Long-term magnet aging tests are continuing to characterize any possible aging in the strength or demagnetization resistance of the permanent magnets used in the linear alternator. Testing of the magnet/lamination epoxy bond for performance and lifetime characteristics is now underway. These efforts are expected to provide key inputs as the system integrator, LM, begins system development of the SRG. GRC is also developing advanced technology for Stirling convertors. Cleveland State University (CSU) is progressing toward a multi-dimensional Stirling computational fluid dynamics code, capable of modeling complete convertors. Validation efforts at both CSU and the University of Minnesota are complementing the code development. New efforts have been started this year on a lightweight convertor, advanced controllers, high-temperature materials, and an end-to-end system dynamics model. Performance and mass improvement goals have been established for second- and third-generation Stirling radioisotope power systems.

SUBJECT TERMS:
Stirling engines; Nuclear electric power generation; Deep space; Mars; Roving vehicles; Life (durability); Linear alternator; Controllers; Computational fluid dynamics; Epoxy resins; Oxidation; Heat resistant alloys

NUMBER OF PAGES:
14

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2003/TM-2003-212454.pdf ( 859 KB )
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