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.

Space Thermoacoustic Radioisotopic Power System, SpaceTRIPS: The Magnetohydrodynamic Generator

Brekis, Arturs;Montisci, Augusto
2021-01-01

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.
2021
Deep space flights
Energy converters
Liquid metals
Magnetohydrodynamics
MHD
Thermoacoustics
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/435546
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