Development of Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator for Planetary Surface and Deep Space Missions

Chan, Jack; Hill, Dennis; Hoye, Tim; Martin, Lockheed; Leland, Doug

doi:10.2514/6.2008-5768

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The previous effort to develop the ASRG is well documented with references to system design [4], system testing [5], and Stirling converter maturation [6]. After the ASRG flight contract was terminated in 2013, GRC continued development of the final engineering model Advanced Stirling Converters (ASCs; designated ASC-E3) at Sunpower Inc., shown in Figure 3.…”

Section: Stirling Technology Maturation and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stirling to flight initiative

Hibbard

Mason

Ndu

et al. 2016

2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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NASA has a consistent need for radioisotope power systems (RPS) to enable robotic scientific missions for planetary exploration that has been present for over four decades and will continue into the foreseeable future, as documented in the most recent Planetary Science Decadal Study Report. As RPS have evolved throughout the years, there has also grown a desire for more efficient power systems, allowing NASA to serve as good stewards of the limited plutonium-238 ( 238 Pu), while also supporting the ever-present need to minimize mass and potential impacts to the desired science measurements. In fact, the recent Nuclear Power Assessment Study (NPAS) released in April 2015 resulted in several key conclusion regarding RPS, including affirmation that RPS will be necessary well into the 2030s (at least) and that 238 Pu is indeed a precious resource requiring efficient utilization and preservation. Stirling Radioisotope Generators (SRGs) combine a Stirling cycle engine powered by a radioisotope heater unit into a single generator system. Stirling engine technology has been under development at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) since the 1970's. The most recent design, the 238 Pu-fueled Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), was offered as part of the NASA Discovery 2010 Announcement of Opportunity (AO). The Step-2 selections for this AO included two ASRGenabled concepts, the Titan Mare Explorer (TiME) and the Comet Hopper (CHopper), although the only non-nuclear concept, InSight, was ultimately chosen. The DOE's ASRG contract was terminated in 2013. Given that SRGs utilize significantly less 238 Pu than traditional Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) -approximately one quarter of the nuclear fuel, to produce similar electrical power output -they provide a technology worthy of consideration for meeting the aforementioned NASA objectives. NASA's RPS Program Office has recently investigated a new Stirling to Flight (S2F) initiative with the objective of developing a 100-500 W e Stirling generator system. Additionally, a different approach is being devised for this initiative to avoid pitfalls of the past, and apply lessons learned from the recent ASRG experience. Two key aspects of this initiative are a Stirling System Technology Maturation Effort, and a Surrogate Mission Team (SMT) intended to provide clear mission pull and requirements context. The S2F project seeks to lead directly into a DOE flight system development of a new SRG. This paper will detail the proposed S2F initiative, and provide specifics on the key efforts designed to pave a forward path for bringing Stirling technology to flight.

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Section: Stirling Technology Maturation and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stirling to flight initiative

Hibbard

Mason

Ndu

et al. 2016

2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An electrically heated Engineering Unit (EU) ASRG was assembled and tested to qualification level in 2008 1 . The EU has the first generation of ASCs with Inconel heater head for lower hot-end temperature capability than the flight ASCs; and the ASC Controller Unit (ACU), denoted as Engineering Development Unit 1 (EDU 1), was the first design that incorporated the necessary features and functionalities required for space missions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%