Development of a Multi-bus, Multi-source Reconfigurable Stirling Radioisotope Power System Test Bed

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has typic ally used Radioisotope Ther mo electric Gene rators (RTG) as their source of electric power for deep space missions. A more efficient and potentially more cost effective alternative to the RTG , the high efficiency 110 watt Stirling Radioisotope Generator 110 (SRG110) is being develope d by the Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin (LM), Stirling Technology Company (STC) and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The SRG110 consists of two Stirling convertors (Stirling Engine and Linear Alternator) in a dual -opposed configuration , and two General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modu les. Although Stirling convertors have been successfully operated as a power source for the utility grid and as a stand -alone portable generator, demonstration of the technology required to interconnect two Stirl ing convertors for a spacecraft power system has not been attempted. NASA GRC is developing a Power System Test Bed (PSTB) to evaluate the pe rformance of a Stirling convertor in an integrated electrical power system application. This paper will describe t he status of the PSTB and on -going activities pertaining to the PSTB in the NASA Thermal -Energy Conversion Branch of the Power and On -Board Propulsion Technology Division.