An Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Stirling Space Power Converter Heater Head

Book excerpt: NASA has identified the Stirling power converter as a prime candidate for the next generation power system for space applications requiring 60000 hr of operation. To meet this long-term goal, several critical components of the power converter have been analyzed using advanced structural assessment methods. Perhaps the most critical component, because of its geometric complexity and operating environment, is the power converter's heater head. This report describes the life assessment of the heater head which includes the characterization of a viscoplastic material model, the thermal and structural analyses of the heater head, and the interpolation of fatigue and creep test results of a nickel-base superalloy, Udimet 720 LI (Low Inclusions), at several elevated temperatures for life prediction purposes. Abdul-Aziz, Ali and Bartolotta, Paul and Tong, Mike and Allen, Gorden Glenn Research Center NAS3-25266; NAS3-25776; RTOP 590-13-11