25 kwe reactor-thermoelectric power system for manned orbiting space stations.
Nuclear reactor/thermoelectric power system design for manned orbiting space station, discussing station integration and operation
Brantley, L. W.↗
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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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Traction drive system design considerations for a lunar roving vehicle
Optimal traction drive system design for lunar roving vehicle, considering weight, energy consumption, operational flexibility, power supply, motor and power train
Doran, B. J.↗
Design, performance, and evaluation of a direct-current contactor for space nuclear electrical systems
A direct-current contactor for use in large space power systems was designed, built, and tested. It was developed to be operational in an environment of 540 C and at a pressure of 0.0001 N/sq m or lower. The contactor is rated to pass 10 A continuously and to interrupt a 20-A current at 10,000 V. It was tested to determine the corona threshold level and the leakage current at different temperatures. Also, it was tested for its closing and interruption ability.
Mueller, L. A.↗
Development of a multikilowatt ion thruster power processor
A feasibility study was made of the application of silicon-controlled, rectifier series, resonant inverter, power conditioning technology to electric propulsion power processing operating from a 200 to 400 Vdc solar array bus. A power system block diagram was generated to meet the electrical requirements of a 20 CM hollow cathode, mercury bombardment, ion engine. The SCR series resonant inverter was developed as a primary means of power switching and conversion, and the analog signal-to-discrete-time-interval converter control system was applied to achieve good regulation. A complete breadboard was designed, fabricated, and tested with a resistive load bank, and critical power processor areas relating to efficiency, weight, and part count were identified.
Schoenfeld, A. D.↗
Evaluation of ERTS-1 data for certain hydrological uses
The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 MSS data have been used in a variety of hydrologic research including snow-extent mapping; studies of snowmelt, snowmelt runoff, spectral reflectance of snow for assessing snowpack conditions, and snow albedo; lake ice formation, breakup, and migration; lake current measurements; multispectral studies of lake ice; and flood studies. MSS sensing of soil moisture over a well-vegetated test site was unsuccessfully attempted. Although a powerful research tool, ERTS-1 has very limited use as an operational system for hydrologic communities because of its 18-day revisit cycle and its lack of a quick look capability.
Wiesnet, D. R.↗
DSS 14 X-band radar feedcone
A high-power 400-kW continuous-wave (CW) X-band radar feed system was described for use with the Goldstone, California, 64-m DSS 14 antenna system. Design considerations, their solutions, and final system testing are discussed. The radar system, unique in terms of antenna size, radiated power, and efficiency, became operational in December 1974.
Neff, D. E.↗
Redox Bulk Energy Storage System Study, Volume 1
Opportunities were found for electrochemical energy storage devices in the U.S. electric utility industry. Application requirements for these devices were defined, including techno-economic factors. A new device, the Redox storage battery was analyzed. The Redox battery features a decoupling of energy storage and power conversion functions. General computer methods were developed to simulate Redox system operations. These studies showed that the Redox system is potentially attractive if certain performance goals can be achieved. Pathways for reducing the cost of the Redox system were identified.
Ciprios, G.↗
Performance and stability analysis of a photovoltaic power system
The performance and stability characteristics of a 10 kVA photovoltaic power system are studied using linear Bode analysis and a nonlinear analog simulation. Power conversion efficiencies, system stability, and system transient performance results are given for system operation at various levels of solar insolation. Additionally, system operation and the modeling of system components for the purpose of computer simulation are described.
Merrill, W. C.↗
CTS-type variable conductance heat pipes for SEP FM/PPU
The development effort for, and the fabrication and testing of, six CTS-type variable conductance heat pipes is described. The heat pipes are constructed of stainless steel, use methanol as a working fluid, and a nitrogen/helium mixture as the control gas. The wicking structure consists of interior wall grooves, a metal-felt diametral slab wick, and two wire-mesh arteries. The heat pipes are used to cool two Functional Model/Power Processing Units in a Solar Electric Propulsion prototype BIMOD thruster subsystem assembly. The Power Processing Units convert the electric power from a spacecraft solar array system to the voltages required to operate the electric thrusters which are part of the BIMOD assembly.
Antoniuk, D.↗
Quiet Clean Short-haul Experimental Engine (QCSEE) Under-The-Wing (UTW) composite Nacelle test report. Volume 2: Acoustic performance
High bypass geared turbofan engines with nacelles forming the propulsion system for short-haul passenger aircraft were tested for use in externally blown flap-type aircraft. System noise levels for a four-engine, UTW-powered aircraft operating in the powered lift mode were calculated to be 97.2 and 95.7 EPNdB at takeoff and approach, respectively, on a 152.4 m (500 ft) sideline compared to a goal of 95.0 EPNdB.
Stimpert, D. L.↗
On regulators with a prescribed degree of stability
Several important aspects of the Regulator with a Prescribed Degree of Stability (RPDS) methodology and its applications are considered. The solution of the time varying RPDS problem as well as the characterization of RPDS closed loop eigenstructure properties are obtained. Based on the asymptotic behavior of RPDS root loci, a one step algorithm for designing Regulators with Prescribed Damping Ratio (RPDR) is developed. The robustness properties of RPDS are characterized in terms of the properties of the return difference and the inverse return difference matrices for the RPDS state feedback loop. This class of regulators is found to possess excellent multiloop margins with respect to stability and degree of stability properties. The ability of RPDS design to tolerate changing operating conditions and unmodelled dynamics are illustrated with a multiterminal dc/ac power system example. The output feedback realization of RPDS requires the use of Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) methodology.
Ng, P. T. P.↗
Experimental simulation of latent heat thermal energy storage and heat pipe thermal transport for dish concentrator solar receiver
Test results on a modular simulation of the thermal transport and heat storage characteristics of a heat pipe solar receiver (HPSR) with thermal energy storage (TES) are presented. The HPSR features a 15-25 kWe Stirling engine power conversion system at the focal point of a parabolic dish concentrator operating at 827 C. The system collects and retrieves solar heat with sodium pipes and stores the heat in NaF-MgF2 latent heat storage material. The trials were run with a single full scale heat pipe, three full scale TES containers, and an air-cooled heat extraction coil to replace the Stirling engine heat exchanger. Charging and discharging, constant temperature operation, mixed mode operation, thermal inertial, etc. were studied. The heat pipe performance was verified, as were the thermal energy storage and discharge rates and isothermal discharges.
Narayanan, R.↗
Technology needs of advanced Earth observation spacecraft
Remote sensing missions were synthesized which could contribute significantly to the understanding of global environmental parameters. Instruments capable of sensing important land and sea parameters are combined with a large antenna designed to passively quantify surface emitted radiation at several wavelengths. A conceptual design for this large deployable antenna was developed. All subsystems required to make the antenna an autonomous spacecraft were conceptually designed. The entire package, including necessary orbit transfer propulsion, is folded to package within the Space Transportation System (STS) cargo bay. After separation, the antenna, its integral feed mast, radiometer receivers, power system, and other instruments are automatically deployed and transferred to the operational orbit. The design resulted in an antenna with a major antenna dimension of 120 meters, weighing 7650 kilograms, and operating at an altitude of 700 kilometers.
Herbert, J. J.↗
A concept for an advanced earth observation spacecraft
Remote sensing missions have been synthesized which could contribute significantly to the understanding of global environmental parameters. Instruments capable of sensing important land and sea parameters are combined with a large antenna designed to passively quantify surface emitted radiation at several wavelengths. A conceptual design for this large deployable antenna has been developed. All subsystems required to make the antenna an autonomous spacecraft have been conceptually designed. The entire package, including necessary orbit transfer propulsion, is folded to package within the Space Transportation System (STS) cargo bay. After separation the antenna, its integral feed mast, radiometer receivers, power system, and other instruments are automatically deployed and transferred to the operational orbit. The design resulted in an antenna with a major antenna dimension of 120 meters, weighting 7650 kilograms, and operating at an altitude of 700 kilometers.
Lovelace, U. M.↗
Terrestrial photovoltaic collector technology trends
Following the path of space PV collector development in its early stages, terrestrial PV technologies based upon single-crystal silicon have matured rapidly. Currently, terrestrial PV cells with efficiencies approaching space cell efficiencies are being fabricated into modules at a fraction of the space PV module cost. New materials, including CuInSe2 and amorphous silicon, are being developed for lowering the cost, and multijunction materials for achieving higher efficiency. Large grid-interactive, tracking flat-plate power systems and concentrator PV systems totaling about 10 MW, are already in operation. Collector technology development both flat-plate and concentrator, will continue under an extensive government and private industry partnership.
Shimada, K.↗
Technology for human self-sufficiency in space
A proposed Pathfinder program would determine the critical human and technology requirements for human self-sufficiency and productivity on manned and long-duration missions to the moon and Mars. Human health would require countermeasures against weightlessness, protection from space radiation and habitats conducive to psychological well-being. Life support systems would need regeneration of expendable resources, power systems for plant life support and processing; and microbial contaminant control. Operational performance requirements include extravehicular activities suit, interactive systems for shared control between humans and computers, and human-centered semi-autonomous systems.
Anderson, John L.↗
Technology needs of the Exploration Initiative
An overview of the U.S. Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) is presented. The two primary objectives of the initiative are a return to the moon to create a permanent lunar base and a human mission to Mars. Even though mission architectural concepts are not yet defined, previous studies indicate that the SEI will require developments in numerous areas, including advanced engines for space transportation, in-space assembly and construction to support permanent basing of exploration systems in space, and advanced surface operations capabilities including satisfactory levels of power and surface roving vehicles, and technologies to safely support human space operations of long duration. The process of mission definition has begun and it is shown that it is possible to identify a family of fundamental functional building blocks from which all SEI mission architectures will be constructed.
Aldrich, Arnold↗
Laser Transmitter Module (LTM) for LITE
In Dec. 1991 TITAN SPECTRON successfully completed its six year effort to design, build, space qualify, test, and deliver the Laser Transmitter Module (LTM) for NASA LaRC's LITE program. The delivered LTM is a three color Q-switched flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG laser that is described as the first true world-class lidar in space. The preliminary design and verification tests results were first presented at the 14th International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC) in 1988. This paper describes not only the delivered product but also the verification and space qualification processes that resulted in the world's first space qualified high powered laser system for environmental exploration from space. Video of the laser operating in a Class 100 clean room and subsystems undergoing 10 G vibration tests will provide a vivid illustration of the key elements that separate a space qualified system from its laboratory counterpart. Flight laser performance measurements form the baseline in post-delivery test results to be presented at this conference.
Chang, John↗