NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) Technology MaturationThe Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) development effort was initiated by NASA Glenn Research Center with contractor Sunpower, Inc., to develop high-efficiency thermal-to-electric power conversion technology for NASA Radioisotope Power Systems (RPSs). Early successful performance demonstrations led to the expansion of the project as well as adoption of the technology by the Department of Energy (DOE) and system integration contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company as part of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) flight project. The ASRG integrates a pair of ASCs to convert the heat from a pair of General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules into electrical power. The expanded NASA ASC effort included development of several generations of ASC prototypes or engineering units to help prepare the ASC technology and Sunpower for flight implementation. Sunpower later had two parallel contracts allowing the last of the NASA engineering units called ASC-E3 to serve as pathfinders for the ASC-F flight convertors being built for DOE. The ASC-E3 convertors utilized the ASC-F flight specifications and were built using the ASC-F design and process documentation. Shortly after the first ASC-F pair achieved initial operation, due to budget constraints, the DOE ASRG flight development contract was terminated. NASA continues to invest in the development of Stirling RPS technology including continued production of the ASC-E3 convertors, seven of which have been delivered with one additional unit in production. Starting in fiscal year 2015, Stirling Convertor Technology Maturation has been reorganized as an element of the RPS Stirling Cycle Technology Development (SCTD) Project and long-term plans for continued Stirling technology advancement are in reformulation. This paper provides a status on the ASC project, an overview of advancements made in the design and production of the ASC at Sunpower, and a summary of acceptance tests, reliability tests, and tactical tests at NASA Glenn that demonstrate the capabilities of the ASC.
Document ID
20160010442
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Wong, Wayne A. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Wilson, Scott (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Collins, Josh (SunPower, Inc. Athens, OH, United States)
Wilson, Kyle (SunPower, Inc. Athens, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 18, 2016
Publication Date
August 1, 2016
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN25967
AIAA Paper 2015-3806
E-19164
NASA/TM-2016-218908
Report Number: GRC-E-DAA-TN25967
Report Number: AIAA Paper 2015-3806
Report Number: E-19164
Report Number: NASA/TM-2016-218908
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC)
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: July 27, 2015
End Date: July 31, 2015
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 138494.04.18.01.01.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Stirling cycle
radioisotope
systems integration

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available