Energy in space - Program planning for space power system technology.
Space power generation systems converting heat or light energy to electricity, noting energy storage
Woodward, W. H.↗
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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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Magnetohydrodynamic generators using two-phase liquid-metal flows
Two-phase flow generator cycle of a magnetohydrodynamic /MHD/ generator uses a working fluid which is compressible and treated as an expanding gas. The two-phase mixture passes from the heat source through the MHD generator, where the expansion process takes place and the electrical energy is extracted.
Petrick, M.↗
Theoretical analyses of electrothermal thrusters with supersonic heat addition
Theoretical performance analyses for electrothermal thrustor using lithium propellant with combination of radioisotope and electrical energy sources
Leon, H. I.↗
Method of making impurity-type semiconductor electrical contacts Patent
Fabrication of sintered impurity semiconductor brushes for electrical energy transfer
Horton, J. C.↗
PC8B-4-X562 fuel cell electrical power supply, operations manual
The PC8B-4 fuel cell electrical power supply is an electrical powerplant designed to convert the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. It utilizes catalyzed electrodes with a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The powerplant and test stand control unit are described together with a specifications summary. Separate sections deal with: performance, reactants supply and control, heat removal, water removal instrumentation, operation, and safety considerations.
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Development of a Thick-film Silicon Ribbon Growth Technique for Application to Large-area Solar Cells and Arrays
A new technique is described for growth of large-area silicon ribbons. This technique is an edge-defined, film-fed growth process by which single crystals can be grown having a shape controlled by the outside dimensions of a shaping die, growth taking place from an extremely thin film of liquid fed by capillary action from a crucible below. The material from which the die is fabricated is very critical to the process. The die must be wet by the silicon, but adverse impurities must not be introduced into the silicon, and the die must not become degraded by the molten silicon. A breakthrough in die fabrication that has allowed the growth of silicon ribbons having dimensions of 1 cm by 30 cm with a thickness of 0.7 mm is described. The implications of this significant advancement with respect to development of photovoltaic solar arrays for wide-scale terrestrial solar-to-electric energy conversion systems are discussed.
Berman, P. A.↗
Apollo experience report: Potable water system
A description of the design and function of the Apollo potable water system is presented. The command module potable water is supplied as a byproduct of the fuel cells. The cells, located in the service module, function primarily to supply electrical energy to the spacecraft. The source of the lunar module potable water is three tanks, which are filled before lift-off. The technique of supplying the water in each of these cases and the problems associated with materials compatibility are described. The chemical and microbiological quality of the water is reviewed, as are efforts to maintain the water in a microbially safe condition for drinking and food mixing.
Sauer, R. L.↗
Efficiency increased in new solar cell: A Concept
Graded band-gap cell should be able to convert solar radiation into electrical energy more efficiently than any solar cell currently available. Thickness of band-gap region should be chosen to maximize both quantity of light absorbed in region and fraction of photogenerated charge carriers collect at junction.
Hutchby, J. A.↗
Optical properties of thin gold films applied to Schottky barrier solar cells
The Schottky barrier solar cell is considered a possible candidate for converting solar to electrical energy both for space and terrestrial applications. Knowledge of the optical constants of the ultrathin metal film used in the cell is essential for analyzing and designing higher efficiency Schottky barrier cells. The optical constants of 7.5 -nm (75-A) gold films on gallium arsenide have been obtained. In addition, the absolute collection efficiency of Schottky barrier solar cells has been determined from measured spectral response and optical constants of the gold film.
YEH Y. M.↗
Thruster array design approaches for a solar electric propulsion Encke Flyby mission
Design approaches are described and evaluated for a mercury electron-bombardment ion thruster array. Such an array might be used on a solar electric interplanetary spacecraft that obtains electrical energy from large solar panels. Thruster array designs are described and evaluated as they would apply to an Encke Flyby mission. Besides several well known approaches, a new concept utilizing individual two-axis gimbal actuators on each thruster is described and shown to have many structural and thermal advantages.
Ross, R. G., Jr.↗
An integrated power/attitude control system /IPACS/ for space vehicle application
An integrated power and attitude control system (IPACS) concept with potential application to a broad class of space missions is discussed. The concept involves the storage and supply on demand of electrical energy in rotating flywheels while simultaneously providing control torques by controlled precession of the flywheels. The system is thus an alternative to the storage batteries used on present spacecraft while providing similar capability for attitude control as that represented by a control moment gyroscope (CMG) system. Potential IPACS configurations discussed include single- and double-rotor double-gimbal IPACS units. Typical sets of control laws which would manage the momentum and energy exchange between the IPACS and a typical space vehicle are discussed. Discussion of a simulation of a typical potential IPACS configuration and candidate mission concerned with pointing capability, power supply and demand flow, and discussion of the interactions between stabilization and control requirements and power flow requirements are presented.
Anderson, W. W.↗
Diode-quad bridge circuit means
A transducer and frequency discriminator circuit is described including a four-terminal circulating diode bridge, a first pair of capacitors connected in series across two terminals of the bridge, and a second pair of capacitors, or other impedance elements, connected in series across the other two terminals of the bridge. A source of balanced alternating electrical energy for energizing the circuit is coupled between the commonly connected plates of the first pair of capacitors and the commonly connected plates of the second pair of capacitors. Due to the operation of the diode bridge, the sum of the resultant charges developed on the first pair of capacitors is proportional to the relationship between the respective capacitors of the second pair, and consequently, an output voltage taken across the first pair of capacitors will be proportional to that relationship.
Harrison, D. R.↗
Heat operated cryogenic electrical generator
An electrical generator useful for providing electrical power in deep space, is disclosed. The electrical generator utilizes the unusual hydrodynamic property exhibited by liquid helium as it is converted to and from a superfluid state to cause opposite directions of rotary motion for a rotor cell thereof. The physical motion of the rotor cell was employed to move a magnetic field provided by a charged superconductive coil mounted on the exterior of the cell. An electrical conductor was placed in surrounding proximity to the cell to interact with the moving magnetic field provided by the superconductive coil and thereby generate electrical energy. A heat control arrangement was provided for the purpose of causing the liquid helium to be partially converted to and from a superfluid state by being cooled and heated, respectively.
Wang, T. G.↗
Benefit-cost methodology study with example application of the use of wind generators
An example application for cost-benefit methodology is presented for the use of wind generators. The approach adopted for the example application consisted of the following activities: (1) surveying of the available wind data and wind power system information, (2) developing models which quantitatively described wind distributions, wind power systems, and cost-benefit differences between conventional systems and wind power systems, and (3) applying the cost-benefit methodology to compare a conventional electrical energy generation system with systems which included wind power generators. Wind speed distribution data were obtained from sites throughout the contiguous United States and were used to compute plant factor contours shown on an annual and seasonal basis. Plant factor values (ratio of average output power to rated power) are found to be as high as 0.6 (on an annual average basis) in portions of the central U. S. and in sections of the New England coastal area. Two types of wind power systems were selected for the application of the cost-benefit methodology. A cost-benefit model was designed and implemented on a computer to establish a practical tool for studying the relative costs and benefits of wind power systems under a variety of conditions and to efficiently and effectively perform associated sensitivity analyses.
Zimmer, R. P.↗
Solar electric and thermal conversion system in close proximity to the consumer
Solar cells may be used to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy and into lowgrade heat to be used for large-scale terrestrial solar-energy conversion. Both forms of energy can be utilized if such cells are deployed in close proximity to the consumer (rooftop). Cadmium-sulfide/copper-sulfide (CdS/Cu2S) solar cells are an example of cells which may be produced inexpensively enough to become economically attractive. Cell parameters relevant for combined solar conversion are presented. Critical issues, such as production yield, life expectancy, and stability of performance, are discussed. Systems-design parameters related to operating temperatures are analyzed. First results obtained on Solar One, the experimental house of the University of Delaware, are given. Economic aspects are discussed. Different modes of operation are discussed in respect to the power utility and consumer incentives.
Boeer, K. W.↗
Programmed pulsing to initiation apparatus for electroexplosive testing
An electroexplosive device accepts electrical energy and converts it into heat which is used to initiate a primary explosion. Disadvantages of the current electroexplosive testing method have led to the development of a new testing procedure which is based on a principle of programmed pulsing to initiation. A series of stepwise increasing energy pulses is applied to the device which is tested until the initiation of the explosion occurs. The test principle is discussed along with the design of the apparatus.
Rosenthal, L. A.↗
Comparative assessment of out-of-core nuclear thermionic power systems
The hardware selections available for fabrication of a nuclear electric propulsion stage for planetary exploration were explored. The investigation was centered around a heat-pipe-cooled, fast-spectrum nuclear reactor for an out-of-core power conversion system with sufficient detail for comparison with the in-core system studies completed previously. A survey of competing power conversion systems still indicated that the modular reliability of thermionic converters makes them the desirable choice to provide the 240-kWe end-of-life power for at least 20,000 full power hours. The electrical energy will be used to operate a number of mercury ion bombardment thrusters with a specific impulse in the range of about 4,000-5,000 seconds.
Estabrook, W. C.↗
Space-based solar power conversion and delivery systems study
Even at reduced rates of growth, the demand for electric power is expected to more than triple between now and 1995, and to triple again over the period 1995-2020. Without the development of new power sources and advanced transmission technologies, it may not be possible to supply electric energy at prices that are conductive to generalized economic welfare. Solar power is renewable and its conversion and transmission from space may be advantageous. The goal of this study is to assess the economic merit of space-based photovoltaic systems for power generation and a power relay satellite for power transmission. In this study, satellite solar power generation and transmission systems, as represented by current configurations of the Satellite Solar Station (SSPS) and the Power Relay Satellite (PRS), are compared with current and future terrestrial power generation and transmission systems to determine their technical and economic suitability for meeting power demands in the period of 1990 and beyond while meeting ever-increasing environmental and social constraints.
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