stirling radioisotope generator

Seminar Guide-Ms. MANU SINGH

Presented By:Md. PARVEZ ALAM

Seminar Coordinator-Mr. NITIN SAXENA

STIRLING RADIOISOTOPE GENERATOR

1. INTRODUCTION2. OBJECTIVES3. COMPONENTS OF SRG4. WORKING OF COMPONENTS OF SRG5. ENERGY CONVERSION DIAGRAM6. OUTCOMES7. TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF SRG DEVELOPMENT8. CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PLANS9. CONCLUSIONS

What is stirling engine?

•It is a heat engine operating by the cylic compression and expansion of gas

•The process occurs at various temperature levels

•Net conversion of heat energy to mechanical energy

•Mechanical energy electrical energy

Plutonium -238 fuel• (generates the heat)

Cladding • (encases the fuel)

Graphite heat source• (protects fuel and clad)

Converter• (heat electricity)

Radiator (removes excess heat)

Stirling generator system outputs • 120Vac• 60Hz, 130-140 watt of power• Continous power supply for ~14 years

To potentially reduce the amount and cost of fuel(plutonium-238-dioxide)

To enable cost effective space

exploration

HEAT SOURCE

STIRLING ENGINE

PM-DC BRUSH

GENERATOR

DC-AC INVERTER

DC-DC CONVERTER

HEAT SOURCE• It acts energy input of the entire system• Provide temperature difference needed to

operate stirling engine• Output of heat source = input of stirling engine

STIRLING ENGINE• Prime mover of system• Cooling, compression, heating and expansion• Thermal energy mechanical work• Output of engine shaft of PM-DC

generator

PM DC GENERATOR• Mechanical work electrical energy• The output is ‘dc’ due to presence of

brushes• Output fed to dc-dc converter

DC CONVERTER• It acts voltage regulator of system• It’s output is a clean dc signal of 170V dc• Output served to DC AC converter

DC AC INVERTER• It acts frequency regulator of system• Convert 170V dc 120V ac,60 Hz• Connected to load

Constant output power for long durations High efficiency(>27%) Low maintenance Can be implemented with any type of

heat source

Natural vibrations and electromagnetic interference should be below specified levels as given by DOE

Use of 55 watt electric converter could reduce the amount of Pu-238 fuel

At output a minimum of 10 W power Obtain minimum output efficiency of 25% Obtain a 120V (+/-5 %)signal of 60 Hz

Need of safe, reliable , long-lived exploration on space bodies such as MARS and in vacuum

Design of SRG giving output 100-120V of dc electric power

Some earlier successful launches were-• GALILIEO SPACECRAFT in orbit about jupiter• CASSINI SPACECRAFT in saturn’s moon• NEW HORIZON SPACECRAFT flying by pluto

Extensive efforts are taken to examine the relaibility of SRG

Traditoinal methods eg. failure mode graphs,criticality analysis of converter etc.

Generators undergo a series of performance tests like vibration, shock and thermal tests etc.

SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSES

The Pu-238 fuel is kept in steel containment capsules

Radioactive wastes dumped underground

Can be implemented with any type of heat source

Can be implemented in remote locations

RPS missions have changed our understanding of our solar system; to continue this increased understanding requires expanded used of RPS

QUERIES?????

THANKS