stirling power
TRANSCRIPT
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Welcome toNASA Power Systems:
Research in New Energy
TechnologyNetwork of Educator Astronaut Teachers
(NEAT)
Education Outreach
Glenn Research Center Region
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NASA Glenn ResearchCenter
Research Areas•Power Systems Research
•Solar Voltaics
•Nuclear Power•Wind Energy
•Electric Propulsion
•Fuel Cells•Stirling Engine
•Battery Technology
•Microgravity Research•Drop Towers
•Exercise Countermeasures
•Return to Flight Impact Risk Research
•Vacuum Research
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“Any sufficiently advanced
technology isindistinguishable from
magic.”Arthur C. Clarke
Science = Exploration,
Mystery, and Magic
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1816
by Rev. Robert Stirling
of Scotland
Stirling Engines
Sir William Robert Grove &his “Gas Voltaic Cell”
1839
Fuel Cells
Ion Propulsion
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Stirling History
• Stirling engine invented in 1816 by Rev. Robert Stirling of Scotland
• Kinematic engine with crankshaft and flywheel
• Competed with early steam engines as higher efficiency alternative
• Efficiency was high because Robert Stirling’s original patent included
the economizer, known today as a regenerator.• Operated at 1 atmosphere of air mean cycle pressure
• As popular as steam engines until the development of boiler code, highpressure boilers
Reverend Robert Stirling
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Charles’s LawV1 V2
T1= T2
How Does a Stirling Engine Work
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Stirling Operation
The Key
Economizer = Regenerator =Displacer
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Stirling Operation
Th
Tc
Displacer Displacer at Cold End
Working Fluid in Hot Space
CreatesHigh Pressure
Displacer at Cold End
Working Fluid in Hot Space
CreatesHigh Pressure
Th
Tc
Displacer at Hot End
Working Fluid in Cold Space
Creates Low Pressure
Displacer at Hot End
Working Fluid in Cold SpaceCreates Low Pressure
Th
Tc
Th
Tc
Power OutputFrom the Engine
Power Output
From the Engine
Low Power Into
the Displacer Drive
Low Power Into
the Displacer Drive
Gamma Configurationof Stirling Engine
Gamma Configuration
of Stirling Engine
Add a Displacer to Shuttle the
Working Fluid between the Hot& Cold Spaces
Add a Displacer to Shuttle the
Working Fluid between the Hot
& Cold Spaces
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Rhombic Drive Stirling
• Rhombic driveprovides linearmotion
• Sliding seals areused and the internalpressure is raised
• Use gas other thanair, such as helium orhydrogen
• Greatly increases thepower and efficiency
• Including the
regenerator (aka, theeconomizer)
Birth of the Free Piston
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Birth of the Free-PistonStirling
Free-Piston Stirling
Power Convertor
Free-Piston Stirling
Power Convertor
Rhombic Drive Stirling
Engine
Rhombic Drive Stirling
Engine
Th
Tc
Heat In
Heat In
Electric
Power Out
Electric
Power Out
Th
Tc
With the appropriate areas andpressure, the displacer drive rod
can become unloaded, i.e. self
driving operation
With the appropriate areas andpressure, the displacer drive rod
can become unloaded, i.e. self
driving operation
With the addition of a load,
such as a linear alternator,
the Stirling engine becomes a
Stirling power convertor
With the addition of a load,
such as a linear alternator,
the Stirling engine becomes a
Stirling power convertor
With proper masses, spring rates, areas,
and damping coefficients (dynamictuning), the convertor will resonate as a
Free-Piston Stirling Convertor
With proper masses, spring rates, areas,
and damping coefficients (dynamic
tuning), the convertor will resonate as aFree-Piston Stirling Convertor
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How Can We Use Stirling in Space?• Could be solar heated if used in earth orbit
• Nuclear power system, either surface poweror flight
• Radioisotope heat source for deep space
• To remove waste heat from electrical systemsand habitats.
Nuclear Lunar Station Nuclear Flight System
Solar Dynamic System
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Why Would We Use Stirling in
Space?
• Reduce the use of plutonium
• Stirling is 4 times more efficient thanother options
• Specific power (W per kg) is higher
than other options• The best option for deep space
probes that cannot use solar power
in deep space.
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The Current Technology
NASA/MTI 25-kWe Space Power
Demonstrator EngineCFIC/CPG 5-kWe solar terrestrialconvertor
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For Teachers only:
Lesson Connections:
• Gas Laws
• Kinetic theory
• Simple Machines
Can you think of others?
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INAAPTApril 21, 2007NASA Power SystemsNew Space TechnologyUsing Stirling EnginesPresenter:Doug PorterRising Sun High School210 South Henrietta StreetRising Sun, IN 47040(812) 438-2652
e-mail: [email protected] Network of Educator Astronaut TeachersNASA Ames Airspace EducatorNASA Spaceward Bound Mojave Expedition 2007
Links:
Stirling Engines Website
http://www.stirlingengine.com/Stirling Engine Forumhttp://www.stirlingengine.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic_id=5&topic=Stirling%20engines%20for%20education
Test tube Rhombic Stirling Engine Site
http://www.geocities.com/~rrice2/my_engines/ttr/ttr.htmlTest Tube Stirling Engine Labhttp://www.mech.canterbury.ac.nz/documents/testube.pdf