A number of design changes for improving the performance of super-alloy AMTEC cells, and options of integrating them to General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules in the configuration proposed by Advanced Modular Power Systems were investigated, for satisfying the electric power requirements for the Pluto/Express mission. A power system consisting of 6 fresh-fuel GPHS modules and 48, 7-tube super-alloy cells connected electrically in 4 parallel strings would weight 28.75 kg and provide 174  W e at EOM, at an efficiency of 13.2%. The cells’ BASE brazes and evaporator temperatures would be below 1059 K and 971 K, respectively. A power system consisting of 5 fresh-fuel GPHS modules and 4 parallel strings of 8, 9-tube cells each would deliver 156  W e at EOM and weight only 24.53 kg. In this system, the AMTEC cells would also operate at low BASE brazes and evaporator temperatures (1071 K and 995 K, respectively).


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Super-alloy, AMTEC cells for the pluto/express mission



    Conference:

    Space technology and applications international forum -1999 ; 1999 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 458 , 1 ; 1293-1300


    Publication date :

    1999-01-22


    Size :

    8 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Super-Alloy, AMTEC Cells for the Pluto/Express Mission

    El-Genk, M. S. / Tournier, J.-M. / James, R. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    Parametric analyses of vapor-anode, multitube AMTEC cells for Pluto/Express mission

    El-Genk, Mohamed S. / Tournier, Jean-Michel | American Institute of Physics | 1998


    Parametric Analyses of Vapor-Anode, Multitube AMTEC Cells for Pluto/Express Mission

    El-Genk, M. S. / Tournier, J.-M. / University of New Mexico; School of Engineering; Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998


    Pluto Express: Mission to Pluto

    Giuliano, J. A. | NTRS | 1996


    A thermal model of the conical evaporator in Pluto/Express, multi-tube AMTEC cells

    Tournier, Jean-Michel / El-Genk, Mohamed S. | American Institute of Physics | 1999