CLOSED-BRAYTON-CYCLE SOLAR-POWER-UNIT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

Abstract

Four problem areas considered critical to the use of a closed Brayton cycle for a solar-powered space power system were reviewed and experimental investigations were conducted thereon to define potential problems. Analyses and experimental testing were conducted to verify that small radial compressors can be made to operate successfully on monatomic gas. The feasibility of using hydrostatic, porous-shoe, flexibly mounted gas bearings was evaluated by testing on a single-shoe and a dynamic two-bearing test rig. Testing was conducted on a singletube test rig to determine the friction and heat-transfer characteristics of internally finned tubes. Two radiator sections were deployed under simulated space conditions to show that a low-redundancy, efficient deployment mechanism can be designed and utilized. A lithiumfluoride hot-fill technique was developed to fill a complex cavity consisting of thin closely spaced (0.040-inch) fins.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0610043

Entities

People

  • A. Pietsch

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bearings
  • Brayton Cycles
  • Compressors
  • Cycles
  • Deployment
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Friction
  • Gas Bearings
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Redundancy
  • Solar Energy

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites