Thermoelectric converters are being used on low power planetary spacecraft. The same type of conversion was considered for Ground Engineering System development of nuclear power generation under the SP-100 program for high power earth orbiting spacecraft. Here, the baseline design is aimed at generating power using a nuclear reactor to produce heat, a thermoelectric converter to produce electricity, a power regulator to match the output to changing payload demands, and a thermal radiator to dissipate waste heat. The converter performance has to be evaluated considering its characteristics. The characteristics and constraints imposed by the nuclear reactor, the payloads and regulator, and the waste heat radiator should be conformed to. Presented here are a thermodynamic reversible engine model for the thermoelectric converter, and its application to evaluate the converter and system performance under steady-state and transient thermal conditions due to load changes. The type of output voltage regulator, either a series or shunt, has an impact on the converter performance. This impact is evaluated and advantages and disadvantages of both are indicated. The converter performance is evaluated along its voltage-current characteristics. Influence of the conversion efficiency is assessed on thermal distribution and electrical output.
Thermoelectric converter modeling in nuclear space power conversion and regulation
Modellierung thermoelektrischer Konverter fuer Energieumwandlung und Leistungsregelung in der Raumfahrtnukleartechnik
1986
6 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 2 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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