Advanced Stirling Technology Development.pdf

Advanced Stirling Technology Development at NASA Glenn Research Center Richard K. Shaltens Wayne A. Wong National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field 21000 Brookpark Road Cleveland, OH 44135 Abstract – NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been developing advanced energy conversion technologies for use with both Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) and Fissions Surface Power Systems (FSPS) for many decades[1, 2, 3]. Under NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Planetary Science Theme, Technology Program, GRC is developing the next generation of Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASC) for use in the DOE/Lockheed Martin Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) [4, 5.] The next generation power conversion technologies require high efficiency and high specific power (We/kg) to meet future mission requirements using less of the Department of Energy (DOE’s) Plutonium fueled General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) Modules and reducing the system mass. Important goals include long-life ( 14 years) reliability, and scalability so that these systems can be considered for a variety of future applications and missions including outer- planetary missions and continual operation on the surface of Mars. This paper provides an update of the history and status of the development of the Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) being developed for GRC by Sunpower Inc., Athens, OH. I. BACKGROUND In 2002, NASA released the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) 02-OSS-01 entitled “Radioisotope Power Conversion Technology” (RPCT) requesting proposals for the development of the next generation power conversion technology [6]. The objective of the RPCT Project is to advance the development of power conversion technologies to provide higher efficiencies and specific power than the state-of- the-practice GPHS RTG. Other goals include safety, long life ( 14 years with well understood degradation), reliability, scal