WELCOME

EEERulez.BlogSpot.in

SOLAR THERMAL PROPULSION

EEERulez.BlogSpot.in

INTRODUCTION
STP conceived in 1956 by Kraft Echrike.  Space craft propulsion.  Does not require development of the power source.  STP system uses soar energy directly as heat.


INTRODUCTION (Contd)
STP effectively bridges the performance gap between chemical and electric propulsion.  Requires only one propellant.  Moderate thrust, propellant efficiency.  Hydrogen used as the propellant


ELEMENTS OF STP SPACE CRAFT



Mainly 3 components.

Concentrator Sunlight concentrated by a lens or mirror. Thruster Heats and expands propellant to produce thrust. Propellant system. Stores cryogenic propellant. (diagram )

SOLAR CONCENTRATORS

   

Two concentrator designs Rigid concentrators Inflatable concentrators Applications of concentrators

INFLATED CONCENTRATORS
It consists of two reflectors  Reflectors are symmetrical and bounded at their edges  Reflector components  Reflective membrane  Transparent membrane (fig )


Inflatable concentrator

ABSORBER AND THRUSTER

Absorber function as a heat exchanger  Transport of high intensity solar flux to the solar receiver via optical fiber cable.  Solar receiver core is made of graphite cylinder.  Graphite core is surrounded by the molybdenum tube.  Optical fiber cable quartz rod.


WORKING OF STP SPACE CRAFT

STP system consists of two off axis solar concentrators.  Optical waveguide transmission line.  Propellant gas injected tangentially into the graphite cylinder.  Expansion through a nozzle. (fig )


PROPELLANT HEATING

Two ways to heat the propellant.

Indirect Method. Direct Method.

INDIRECT METHOD
When sunlight is passed, propellant flow through pipes.  Passages in the wall of a windowless heating cavity.  Propellant gas expands through a nozzle. (Fig )


INDIRECT METHOD

DIRECT METHOD
Propellant flow through windowed heating chamber.  Cylindrical rotating chamber rotates so that centrifugal force keeps the sand or seeds.  Choice of seeds. (Fig )


DIRECT METHOD

SOLAR THERMAL PROPULSIONCONCEPTS

Two system level approaches  Direct gain approach  Thermal storage concept


DIRECT GAIN CONCEPT

Solar energy is collected by inflated concentrators.  Use sunlight directly.  No need of thermal storage medium .  Specific impulse is less.


THERMAL STORAGE CONCEPT

It simplifies sun orientation and sun trickling Higher thrust with smaller concentrators Thermal storage medium Specific impulse depends on storage temperature

   

SPECIFICATION
Propellant hydrogen.  Maximum temp - 2300K to 2400K. 2300 2400  Chamber pressure 20 to 25 psia.  Nozzle area ratio 100:1.  Thrust 100 N.  Specific impulse 750 to 800 sec.


COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT THRUSTERS

Liquid thruster  Solid thruster  Solar thermal thruster


TECHNOLOGIES UNDER DEVELOPING FOR STP

High temperature heat exchangers  Low cost manufacturing of high performance components  Long term cryogenic hydrogen storage  Light weight, less rigid structures


BENEFITS OF SOLAR THERMAL PROPULSION

Higher payload fraction  Higher specific impulse  Higher thrust to weight ratio  Space solar power  Low cost for interplanetary travel and unmanned exploration


LIMITATIONS OF SOLAR THERMAL PROPULSION

Relatively lower thrust  Less efficient places where sunlight intensity low  Ground level testing


CONCLUSION
Less expensive, much simpler, more efficient.  Missions to the moon and mars as well as boosting payloads to higher orbit.  Solar absorber, thruster and inflated concentrated technology development have continued to be advanced under AFRL over the last 20 years.


EEERulez.BlogSpot.in

THANK YOU