Space Thermoacoustic Radioisotopic Power System, SpaceTRIPS: The Magnetohydrodynamic Generator

Arturs Brekis,Antoine Alemany,Olivier Alemany,Augusto Montisci

doi:10.3390/su132313498

Abstract

Electricity production is a major problem for deep space exploration. The possibility of using radioisotope elements with a very long life as an energy source was investigated in the framework of an EU project “SpaceTRIPS”. For this, a two-stage system was tested, the first in which thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy by means of a thermoacoustic process, and the second where mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy by means of a magnetohydrodynamic generator (MHD). The aim of the present study is to develop an analytical model of the MHD generator. A one-dimensional model is developed and presented that allows us to evaluate the behavior of the device as regards both electromagnetic and fluid-dynamic aspects, and consequently to determine the characteristic values of efficiency and power.

Highlights

The necessity to benefit from electricity in space is evident for various types of applications
When a high-temperature gradient is imposed on both extremities of an element with low thermal conductivity, gradient is imposed on both extremities of an element with low thermal conductivity, called regenerator or stack, an acoustic wave is generated, which propagates in a pipe called regenerator or stack, an acoustic wave is generated, which propagates in a pipe containing a gas at high pressure [1,2]
Calculations are performed on 2 different pressures received from the thermoacoustic engine: 2 bar and 6 bar

Summary

Introduction

The necessity to benefit from electricity in space is evident for various types of applications. The power supply of rovers for Mars missions is one example where the alternation of nights and days and dust storms create difficulties in the use of solar radiation. The possibility to have a long lifetime of thermal power, which can be used as the primary energy in an electrical generator, was the main objective of the EU-FP7 project SpaceTRIPS (2013–15 ID: 312639). The radioisotope americium able to supply thermal energy over several centuries was investigated. The global system (Figure 1), which was studied, was composed by: Americium heat source. Thermoacoustic engine, transforming thermal into mechanical energy

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