Author : National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781721685943
Total Pages : 30 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (859 download)
Book Synopsis Effect of Random Thermal Spikes on Stirling Convertor Heater Head Reliability by : National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Download or read book Effect of Random Thermal Spikes on Stirling Convertor Heater Head Reliability written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06-21 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Onboard radioisotope power systems being developed to support future NASA exploration missions require reliable design lifetimes of up to 14 yr and beyond. The structurally critical heater head of the high-efficiency developmental Stirling power convertor has undergone extensive computational analysis of operating temperatures (up to 650 C), stresses, and creep resistance of the thin-walled Inconel 718 bill of material. Additionally, assessment of the effect of uncertainties in the creep behavior of the thin-walled heater head, the variation in the manufactured thickness, variation in control temperature, and variation in pressure on the durability and reliability were performed. However, it is possible for the heater head to experience rare incidences of random temperature spikes (excursions) of short duration. These incidences could occur randomly with random magnitude and duration during the desired mission life. These rare incidences could affect the creep strain rate and therefore the life. The paper accounts for these uncertainties and includes the effect of such rare incidences, random in nature, on the reliability. The sensitivities of variables affecting the reliability are quantified and guidelines developed to improve the reliability are outlined. Furthermore, the quantified reliability is being verified with test data from the accelerated benchmark tests being conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Shah, Ashwin R. and Korovaichuk, Igor and Halford, Gary R. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2004-213368, AIAA Paper 2004-5507, E-14836