Solar Heat Source Feasibility Study.
Abstract
The goal of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of direct conversion of solar energy to heat to provide a lightweight, inexpensive power source for orbital cryo cooling. This was accomplished by: design of a solar heat source for satellite use, optimizing the design for 1250 degrees F, and verifying the design with tests of a scale model. The design and optimization were done by conducting a series of tradeoff studies on the various components. The resulting design is predicted to have an efficiency in excess of 50 percent, at a cost and weight far less than that of competing solar cell powered heaters. It is also much less expensive than nuclear sources of heat. The design provides for sun tracking in any orbit with heat storage provisions for shadow transit. The design includes: a paraboloidal collector, a spherical receiver with a selective solar energy absorbing coating, potassium or sodium-filled molybdenum heat pipe, lithium hydride as the heat storage material, and sun-pointing handled with straightforward state-of-the-art techniques. The verification of system feasibility was by fabrication and testing of a test model. The results of the tests show that the system's operation is predictable. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0879939
Entities
People
- Carl B. Petersen
- James W. Ramsey
- Roger N. Schmidt
Organizations
- Honeywell International, Inc.