Abstract
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG) have been used by NASA to reliably power spacecraft for deep space exploration for over 40 years. Current state of the practice systems are limited to device-level efficiencies of 7.5% or less and system level specific powers of 2.8 to 5.1 W/Kg. NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems Thermoelectric Technology Development Program (TTDP) is pursuing development of more efficient thermoelectric technologies that can increase performance by a factor of 2 to 4x over these state of the practice systems1. NASA’s TTDP is developing high-efficiency segmented couples/modules with the following design goals: A) system conversion efficiency ≥ 11% (≥ 60% improvement over MMRTG at BOL) and b) ≥ 6-8.5 We/kg specific power (2-3 x improvement over MMRTG), for a temperature gradient T = 800 K (TH=1273 K and TC = 473 K). We will be discussing the state of development of the aforementioned couples and the tools that are used to guide this development. First-principle calculations and Finite Element Thermomechanical analysis are used to guide materials selection and device architecture, while extended device testing is utilized to establish couple reliability and stability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018 |
| Publisher | American Nuclear Society |
| Pages | 174-177 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781510859609 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
| Event | Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018 - Las Vegas, United States Duration: Feb 26 2018 → Mar 1 2018 |
Publication series
| Name | Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018 |
|---|
Other
| Other | Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Las Vegas |
| Period | 2/26/18 → 3/1/18 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Aerospace Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Cite this
}
Development of high efficiency segmented thermoelectric couples for space applications. / Drymiotis, Fivos; Fleurial, Jean Pierre; Bux, Sabah; Firdosy, Samad; Start, Kurt; Chi, Ike; Ravi, Vilupanur; Li, Billy Chun Yip; Chanakian, Sevan; Cheikh, Dean; Lee, Kathy; Yu, Kevin; Villalpando, Obed; Smith, Kevin; Uhl, David; Huang, Chen Kuo; Paik, Jong Ah; Liu, Zi Kui; Soldan Palma, Jorge Paz; Wang, Yi; Chong, Xiao Yu; Hurwitz, Frances; Zhu, Dongming; Guo, Haiquan; Costa, Gustavo.
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018. American Nuclear Society, 2016. p. 174-177 (Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
TY - GEN
T1 - Development of high efficiency segmented thermoelectric couples for space applications
AU - Drymiotis, Fivos
AU - Fleurial, Jean Pierre
AU - Bux, Sabah
AU - Firdosy, Samad
AU - Start, Kurt
AU - Chi, Ike
AU - Ravi, Vilupanur
AU - Li, Billy Chun Yip
AU - Chanakian, Sevan
AU - Cheikh, Dean
AU - Lee, Kathy
AU - Yu, Kevin
AU - Villalpando, Obed
AU - Smith, Kevin
AU - Uhl, David
AU - Huang, Chen Kuo
AU - Paik, Jong Ah
AU - Liu, Zi Kui
AU - Soldan Palma, Jorge Paz
AU - Wang, Yi
AU - Chong, Xiao Yu
AU - Hurwitz, Frances
AU - Zhu, Dongming
AU - Guo, Haiquan
AU - Costa, Gustavo
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG) have been used by NASA to reliably power spacecraft for deep space exploration for over 40 years. Current state of the practice systems are limited to device-level efficiencies of 7.5% or less and system level specific powers of 2.8 to 5.1 W/Kg. NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems Thermoelectric Technology Development Program (TTDP) is pursuing development of more efficient thermoelectric technologies that can increase performance by a factor of 2 to 4x over these state of the practice systems1. NASA’s TTDP is developing high-efficiency segmented couples/modules with the following design goals: A) system conversion efficiency ≥ 11% (≥ 60% improvement over MMRTG at BOL) and b) ≥ 6-8.5 We/kg specific power (2-3 x improvement over MMRTG), for a temperature gradient T = 800 K (TH=1273 K and TC = 473 K). We will be discussing the state of development of the aforementioned couples and the tools that are used to guide this development. First-principle calculations and Finite Element Thermomechanical analysis are used to guide materials selection and device architecture, while extended device testing is utilized to establish couple reliability and stability.
AB - Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG) have been used by NASA to reliably power spacecraft for deep space exploration for over 40 years. Current state of the practice systems are limited to device-level efficiencies of 7.5% or less and system level specific powers of 2.8 to 5.1 W/Kg. NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems Thermoelectric Technology Development Program (TTDP) is pursuing development of more efficient thermoelectric technologies that can increase performance by a factor of 2 to 4x over these state of the practice systems1. NASA’s TTDP is developing high-efficiency segmented couples/modules with the following design goals: A) system conversion efficiency ≥ 11% (≥ 60% improvement over MMRTG at BOL) and b) ≥ 6-8.5 We/kg specific power (2-3 x improvement over MMRTG), for a temperature gradient T = 800 K (TH=1273 K and TC = 473 K). We will be discussing the state of development of the aforementioned couples and the tools that are used to guide this development. First-principle calculations and Finite Element Thermomechanical analysis are used to guide materials selection and device architecture, while extended device testing is utilized to establish couple reliability and stability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051958538&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051958538&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85051958538
SN - 9781510859609
T3 - Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018
SP - 174
EP - 177
BT - Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018
PB - American Nuclear Society
ER -