The advanced Stirling engine/alternator developed by Stirling Technology Company has potential for a wide range of space applications, at an efficiency comparable to solar cells and triple that of thermoelectric elements. However, the unique design of the Stirling engine requires a concentrated heat input in an annular band which would be optimized with an advanced heat source design. The concentrated heat rejection area of the Stirling engine would also be optimized with the use of a Capillary Pumped Loop to transport the waste heat from the engine. This advanced concept will explore using a Capillary Pumped Loop to transport the waste heat to the mission spacecraft for operational heating. Use of these advanced techniques will allow a specific power approaching compared to for a conventional RTG.
Modular Stirling Radioisotope Power System (SRPS) using an advanced heat source
Space Technology and Applications International Forum - 2001 ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 552 , 1 ; 995-997
2001-02-02
3 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Modular Stirling Radioisotope Power System (SRPS) Using an Advanced Heat Source
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