Development of a hydrogen-oxygen space power supply system Progress report, 1-31 Oct. 1963
Prototype components fabrication and performance tests in development of hydrogen-oxygen auxiliary space power generation unit
AUXILIARY POWER SOURCE↗
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Results for “Power Generation”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Electric power processing, distribution and control for advanced aerospace vehicles.
The results of a current study program to develop a rational basis for selection of power processing, distribution, and control configurations for future aerospace vehicles including the Space Station, Space Shuttle, and high-performance aircraft are presented. Within the constraints imposed by the characteristics of power generation subsystems and the load utilization equipment requirements, the power processing, distribution and control subsystem can be optimized by selection of the proper distribution voltage, frequency, and overload/fault protection method. It is shown that, for large space vehicles which rely on static energy conversion to provide electric power, high-voltage dc distribution (above 100 V dc) is preferable to conventional 28 V dc and 115 V ac distribution per MIL-STD-704A. High-voltage dc also has advantages over conventional constant frequency ac systems in many aircraft applications due to the elimination of speed control, wave shaping, and synchronization equipment.
Krausz, A.↗
Space-based solar power conversion and delivery systems study. Volume 2: Engineering analysis of orbital systems
Program plans, schedules, and costs are determined for a synchronous orbit-based power generation and relay system. Requirements for the satellite solar power station (SSPS) and the power relay satellite (PRS) are explored. Engineering analysis of large solar arrays, flight mechanics and control, transportation, assembly and maintenance, and microwave transmission are included.
Source record↗
Space and surface power for the space exploration initiative: Results from project outreach
The analysis and evaluations of the Space and Surface Power panel, one of eight panels created by RAND to screen and analyze submissions to the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) Outreach Program, is documented. In addition to managing and evaluating the responses, or submissions, to this public outreach program, RAND conducted its own analysis and evaluation relevent to SEI mission concepts, systems, and technologies. The Power panel screened and analyzed submissions for which a substantial portion of the concepts involved power generation sources, transmission, distribution, thermal management, and handling of power (including conditioning, conversion, packaging, and enhancements in system components). A background discussion of the areas the Power panel covered and the issues the reviewers considered pertinent to the analysis of power submissions are presented. An overview of each of the highest-ranked submissions and then a discussion of these submissions is presented. The results of the analysis is presented.
Shipbaugh, C.↗
An Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Stirling Space Power Converter Heater Head
NASA has identified the Stirling power converter as a prime candidate for the next generation power system for space applications requiring 60000 hr of operation. To meet this long-term goal, several critical components of the power converter have been analyzed using advanced structural assessment methods. Perhaps the most critical component, because of its geometric complexity and operating environment, is the power converter's heater head. This report describes the life assessment of the heater head which includes the characterization of a viscoplastic material model, the thermal and structural analyses of the heater head, and the interpolation of fatigue and creep test results of a nickel-base superalloy, Udimet 720 LI (Low Inclusions), at several elevated temperatures for life prediction purposes.
Abdul-Aziz, Ali↗
Demonstration of a Submillimeter-Wave HEMT Oscillator Module at 330 GHz
In this work, radial transitions have been successfully mated with a HEMT-based MMIC (high-electron-mobility-transistor-based monolithic microwave integrated circuit) oscillator circuit. The chip has been assembled into a WR2.2 waveguide module for the basic implementation with radial E-plane probe transitions to convert the waveguide mode to the MMIC coplanar waveguide mode. The E-plane transitions have been directly integrated onto the InP substrate to couple the submillimeter-wave energy directly to the waveguides, thus avoiding wire-bonds in the RF path. The oscillator demonstrates a measured 1.7 percent DC-RF efficiency at the module level. The oscillator chip uses 35-nm-gate-length HEMT devices, which enable the high frequency of oscillation, creating the first demonstration of a packaged waveguide oscillator that operates over 300 GHz and is based on InP HEMT technology. The oscillator chip is extremely compact, with dimensions of only 1.085 x 320 sq mm for a total die size of 0.35 sq mm. This fully integrated, waveguide oscillator module, with an output power of 0.27 mW at 330 GHz, can provide low-mass, low DC-power-consumption alternatives to existing local oscillator schemes, which require high DC power consumption and large mass. This oscillator module can be easily integrated with mixers, multipliers, and amplifiers for building high-frequency transmit and receive systems at submillimeter wave frequencies. Because it requires only a DC bias to enable submillimeter wave output power, it is a simple and reliable technique for generating power at these frequencies. Future work will be directed to further improving the applicability of HEMT transistors to submillimeter wave and terahertz applications. Commercial applications include submillimeter-wave imaging systems for hidden weapons detection, airport security, homeland security, and portable low-mass, low-power imaging systems
Radisic, Vesna↗
Radiation Specifications for Fission Power Conversion Component Materials
NASA has been supporting design studies and technology development that could provide power to an outpost on the moon, Mars, or an asteroid. One power-generation system that is independent of sunlight or power-storage limitations is a fission-based power plant. There is a wealth of terrestrial system heritage that can be transferred to the design and fabrication of a fission power system for space missions, but there are certain design aspects that require qualification. The radiation tolerance of the power conversion system requires scrutiny because the compact nature of a space power plant restricts the dose reduction methodologies compared to those used in terrestrial systems. An integrated research program has been conducted to establish the radiation tolerance of power conversion system-component materials. The radiation limit specifications proposed for a Fission Power System power convertor is 10 Mrad ionizing dose and 5 x 10(exp 14) neutron per square centimeter fluence for a convertor operating at 150 C. Specific component materials and their radiation tolerances are discussed. This assessment is for the power convertor hardware; electronic components are not covered here.
Bowman, Cheryl L.↗
SPACE: Three Decades of Spacecraft Power Systems Analysis with Fortran
The SPACE (System Power Analysis for Capability Evaluation) Fortran program developed at NASA Glenn Research Center has enabled power generation predictions and energy balance analyses for spacecraft electrical power systems (EPS) since 1988. SPACE was originally designed to analyze the EPS of the Space Station Freedom and continues to support certifications for visiting vehicles and extravehicular activities on the International Space Station today. Another version of SPACE currently supports design and mission planning operations for the Orion and Gateway vehicles as part of NASA’s Artemis program. In total, over 50 engineers have contributed to the development and use of SPACE on various platforms throughout its history. Ongoing code modernization efforts aim to generalize the program for use with different vehicles and configurations. While SPACE team analysts currently interact with the program via the command line, future development work also includes the creation of a graphical user interface for use by flight operations personnel. The SPACE code thus has a long legacy in spacecraft EPS analysis and will continue to play a critical role in future human spaceflight missions by leveraging the computational power of Fortran.
Fortran↗
An Adaptive Dynamic Agrivoltaic Production Tool
In the pursuit of sustainable and land-use-efficient solutions to mitigate climate change, the concept of agrivoltaic systems, which integrate renewable solar energy into conventional agriculture, has emerged. By deploying solar arrays above the crop field, these systems are designed to maximize the land use efficiency or, in other words, the value of generated electricity and crop yield per unit area. While power generation has been extensively studied and modeled, research gaps persist in simulating crop performance [1], [2]. Early studies utilized generalized relationships between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and crop production. However, significant variations in crop performance due to other factors, such as weather and soil, can compromise the reliability of the results [2]. Current studies focus on comprehensive process-based crop models, such as DSSAT [3] and STICS [4]. Nevertheless, the validation status varies greatly across different species, and the validation process requires well-designed experiments to adjust specific processes. For less common shade-tolerant crops with limited validation, such as cabbage, physiological behaviors can be difficult to predict [5]. This study investigates an adaptive dynamic agrivoltaic production tool (ADAPT) with few data requirements and minimal on-site calibration that can be easily applied in real applications.
Long, Qirui↗
Report of NASA Lunar Energy Enterprise Case Study Task Force
The Lunar Energy Enterprise Case Study Task Force was asked to determine the economic viability and commercial potential of mining and extracting He-3 from the lunar soil, and transporting the material to Earth for use in a power-generating fusion reactor. Two other space energy projects, the Space Power Station (SPS) and the Lunar Power Station (LPS), were also reviewed because of several interrelated aspects of these projects. The specific findings of the Task Force are presented. Appendices contain related papers generated by individual Task Force Members.
Kearney, John J.↗
Preliminary results in the NASA Lewis H2-O2 combustion MHD experiment
MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) power generation experiments were carried out in the NASA Lewis Research Center cesium-seeded H2-O2 combustion facility. This facility uses a neon-cooled cryomagnet capable of producing magnetic fields in excess of 5 tesla. The effects of power takeoff location, generator loading, B-field strength, and electrode breakdown on generator performance are discussed. The experimental data is compared to a theory based on one-dimensional flow with heat transfer, friction, and voltage drops.
Smith, J. M.↗
Topology Optimization of 3D Flow Fields for Flow Batteries
We report as power generated from renewables becomes more readily available, the need for power-efficient energy storage devices, such as redox flow batteries, becomes critical for successful integration of renewables into the electrical grid. An important aspect of a redox flow battery is the planar flow field, which is usually composed of two-dimensional channels etched into a backing plate. As reactant-laden electrolyte flows into the flow battery, the channels in the flow field distribute the fluid throughout the reactive porous electrode. We utilize topology optimization to design flow fields with full three-dimensional geometry variation, i.e., 3D flow fields. Specifically, we focus on vanadium redox flow batteries and use the optimization algorithm to generate 3D flow fields evolved from standard interdigitated flow fields by minimizing the electrical and flow pressure power losses. To understand how these 3D designs improve performance, we analyze the polarization of the reactant concentration and exchange current within the electrode to highlight how the designed flow fields mitigate the presence of electrode dead zones. While interdigitated flow fields can be heuristically engineered to yield high performance by tuning channel and land dimensions, such a process can be laborious; this work provides a framework for automating that design process.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
Preliminary results in the NASA Lewis H2-O2 combustion MHD experiment
MHD power generation experiments have been carried out in the NASA Lewis Research Center cesium-seeded H2-O2 combustion facility. This facility uses a neon-cooled cryomagnet capable of producing magnetic fields in excess of 5 tesla. The effects of power takeoff location, generator loading, B-field strength, and electrode breakdown on generator performance are discussed. The experimental data is compared to a theory based on one-dimensional flow with heat transfer, friction, and voltage drops.
Smith, J. M.↗
Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Power System
A grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) power system is connected directly to the utility distribution grid. Facility power can be obtained from the utility system as normal. The PV system is synchronized with the utility system to provide power for the facility, and excess power is provided to the utility. Operating costs of a PV power system are low compared to conventional power technologies. This method can displace the highest-cost electricity during times of peak demand in most climatic regions, and thus reduce grid loading. Net metering is often used, in which independent power producers such as PV power systems are connected to the utility grid via the customers main service panels and meters. When the PV power system is generating more power than required at that location, the excess power is provided to the utility grid. The customer pays the net of the power purchased when the on-site power demand is greater than the onsite power production, and the excess power is returned to the utility grid. Power generated by the PV system reduces utility demand, and the surplus power aids the community. Modern PV panels are readily available, reliable, efficient, and economical, with a life expectancy of at least 25 years. Modern electronics have been the enabling technology behind grid-tied power systems, making them safe, reliable, efficient, and economical with a life expectancy equal to the modern PV panels. The grid-tied PV power system was successfully designed and developed, and this served to validate the basic principles developed, and the theoretical work that was performed. Grid-tied PV power systems are reliable, maintenance- free, long-life power systems, and are of significant value to NASA and the community. Of particular value are the analytical tools and capabilities that have been successfully developed. Performance predictions can be made confidently for grid-tied PV systems of various scales. The work was done under the NASA Hybrid Power Management (HPM) Program, which is the integration of diverse power devices in an optimal configuration for space and terrestrial applications.
Eichenberg, Dennis J.↗
System engineering study of electrodynamic tether as a spaceborne generator and radiator of electromagnetic waves in the ULF/ELF frequency band
An electrodynamic tether deployed from a satellite in low-Earth orbit can perform, if properly instrumented, as a partially self-powered generator of electromagnetic waves in the ULF/ELF band, potentially at power levels high enough to be of practical use. Two basic problems are examined. The first is that of the level of wave power that the system can be expected to generate in the ULF/ELF radiation band. The second major question is whether an electrodynamic tethered satellite system for transmitting waves can be made partially self-powering so that power requirements for drag compensation can be met within economical constraints of mass, cost, and complexity. The theoretical developments and the system applications study are presented. The basic design criteria, the drag-compensation method, the effects on the propagation paths from orbit to Earth surface of high-altitude nuclear debris patches, and the estimate of masses and sizes are covered. An outline of recommended analytical work, to be performed as a follow-on to the present study, is contained.
Estes, Robert D.↗
Results of duct area ratio changes in the NASA Lewis H2-O2 combustion MHD experiment
MHD power generation experiments utilizing a cesium-seeded H2-O2 working fluid were carried out using a diverging area Hall duct having an entrance Mach number of 2. The experiments were conducted in a high field strength cryomagnet facility at field strengths up to 5 tesla. The effects of power takeoff location, generator loading B field strength, and electrode breakdown voltage were investigated. The effect of area ratio, multiple loading of the duct, and duct location within the magnetic field are considered.
Smith, J. M.↗
A comparison of efficiency-aware model-predictive control approaches for wave energy devices
In this study, we compare four different formulations of model predictive control that attempt to maximise electrical power generated by a wave energy converter (WEC). Control laws include (1) pure maximisation of mechanical power, (2) maximisation of mechanical power with a control penalty factor, (3) maximisation of electrical power using power conversion efficiency, and (4) maximisation of electrical power using the full electro-mechanical model of a system. For this study, a wave-to-wire model is developed for a floating spherical buoy connected to a permanent magnet synchronous generator. The performance of the controllers, including the mechanical and electrical power outputs, is compared in irregular wave conditions for the unconstrained and force-constrained scenarios. The results demonstrate that the controller designed to maximise mechanical power is not suitable for practical applications and may lead to negative electrical power output due to the non-ideal power take-off efficiency. Moreover, the replacement of the power take-off dynamics by the efficiency coefficient does not guarantee the maximum electrical power production.
16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
Results of duct area ratio changes in the NASA Lewis H2-O2 combustion MHD experiment
MHD power generation experiments utilizing a cesium-seeded H2-O2 working fluid have been carried out using a diverging area Hall duct having an entrance Mach number of 2. The experiments are conducted in a high-field strength cryomagnet facility at field strengths up to 5 tesla. The effects of power takeoff location, generator loading, B-field strength, and electrode breakdown voltage have been investigated. In this paper the effect of area ratio, multiple loading of the duct, and duct location within the magnetic field are considered.
Smith, J. M.↗