NASA LogoNTRSNTRS - NASA Technical Reports ServerSearchmore_vertCollectionsAboutNewsHelpLogin Back to ResultsAdvanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) Technology MaturationThe Advanced Stirling Convertor (ASC) development effort was initiated by NASA Glenn Research Center with contractor Sunpower, Inc., to develop high-efficiency thermal-to-electric power conversion technology for NASA Radioisotope Power Systems (RPSs). Early successful performance demonstrations led to the expansion of the project as well as adoption of the technology by the Department of Energy (DOE) and system integration contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company as part of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) flight project. The ASRG integrates a pair of ASCs to convert the heat from a pair of General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules into electrical power. The expanded NASA ASC effort included development of several generations of ASC prototypes or engineering units to help prepare the ASC technology and Sunpower for flight implementation. Sunpower later had two parallel contracts allowing the last of the NASA engineering units called ASC-E3 to serve as pathfinders for the ASC-F flight convertors being built for DOE. The ASC-E3 convertors utilized the ASC-F flight specifications and were built using the ASC-F design and process documentation. Shortly after the first ASC-F pair achieved initial operation, due to budget constraints, the DOE ASRG flight development contract was terminated. NASA continues to invest in the development of Stirling RPS technology including continued production of the ASC-E3 convertors, seven of which have been delivered with one additional unit in production. Starting in fiscal year 2015, Stirling Convertor Technology Maturation has been reorganized as an element of the RPS Stirling Cycle Technology Development (SCTD) Project and long-term plans for continued Stirling technology advancement are in reformulation. This paper provides a status on the ASC project, an overview of advancements made in the design and production of the ASC at Sunpower, and a summary of acceptance tests, reliability tests, and tactical tests at NASA Glenn that demonstrate the capabilities of the ASC.Document ID20160010442Acquisition SourceGlenn Research CenterDocument TypeTechnical Memorandum (TM)AuthorsWong, Wayne A.*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)*Wilson, Scott*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)*Collins, Josh*(SunPower, Inc. Athens, OH, United States)*Wilson, Kyle*(SunPower, Inc. Athens, OH, United States)*Date AcquiredAugust 18, 2016Publication DateAugust 1, 2016Subject CategorySpacecraft Propulsion And PowerEnergy Production And ConversionReport/Patent NumberGRC-E-DAA-TN25967AIAA Paper 2015-3806E-19164NASA/TM-2016-218908Meeting InformationMeeting: International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC)Location: Orlando, FLCountry: United StatesStart Date: July 27, 2015End Date: July 31, 2015Funding Number(s)WBS: WBS 138494.04.18.01.01.01Distribution LimitsPublicCopyrightPublic Use Permitted.KeywordsStirling cycleradioisotopesystems integrationAvailable DownloadsNameType20160010442.pdfSTIcloud_downloadcontent_copyvisibilityRelated RecordsThere are no records associated with this record.visibility_offNo Preview Available
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