Nasa rps program

GRC continues to operate four ASC in extended operation and they have accumulated over 30 years of operation. Disassembly and inspection of some units was used to identify needed improvements for thermal stability of running clearances and robustness to over-test conditions. While the ASC and SRSC designs use gas bearings to maintain non-contacting running clearances needed for wear-free operation, changes were made to increase the stiffness of the bearings and improve robustness.

It employs a robust regenerator design to eliminate the risk of debris generation and has incorporated a passive collision prevention system, in case of temporary loss of electrical load, that dissipates thermodynamic cycle energy for a portion of the cycle where the moving components exceed a threshold amplitude.

The generator contains a centrally located stack of four GPHS modules surrounded by radiatively-coupled convertors. There are six convertors installed and four required for full power, making two convertors redundant. The convertor heat rejection flange is bolted to the generator housing fin assembly. It includes changes that improve bearing performance and increase temperature tolerance to accommodate DRPS requirements.

The TBC prototype uses hydrodynamic journal bearings and thrust bearings to maintain non-contacting running clearances needed for wear-free operation. The turbo machine consists of a single rotating shaft with turbine and compressor impellers located at each end. The shaft contains a rare-earth magnet which rotates inside a stationary coil and iron of the rotary alternator. The conversion process is enabled by unidirectional gas flow through the turbomachine assembly, recuperator, and heat exchangers.

The counter-flow recuperator enables high thermodynamic efficiency by pre-warming gas before it flows into the heat source assembly. The TBC generator concept contains two convertors to provide full redundancy and enable counter-rotating turbo-alternators so no net angular momentum would be imparted into the space vehicle with both convertors operating. DOE owns the nuclear material and the nuclear power systems, and directly manages the design and development of all radioisotope power systems used by NASA.

The program also is developing and testing energy conversion technologies and systems that could enable or significantly enhance the effectiveness of future space science missions where radioisotope power systems may be required. NASA's current investments in the RPS development program include researching new technologies to improve future systems, and performing mission studies.

GRC has decades of experience developing the Stirling converter technology that could be utilized by a dynamic power system. As part of its program management responsibilities, GRC leads program planning, financial and scheduling activities. The Radioisotope Power Systems RPS Program is a technology development effort, managed by NASA, that is strategically investing in nuclear power technologies that would maintain NASA's current space science capabilities and could enable future space exploration missions.

NASA, working in collaboration with the U. The RPS program is designed to enable more capable future space missions by supporting the development of advanced technologies for power conversion using heat from the natural decay of plutonium