High-Level Project Summary
We analyzed the energy distribution for a lander & designed a system depending on powering each system individually from the main power sourceUtilizing Venus’s high temperature in power generating, we chose Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) as the primary source of our design. Depending on driven from temperature difference between Venus and decaying of plutonium, the compression and expansion of helium inside the shaft inside magnetized coil providing continuous electrical power reachs 130W to the whole mission.Some power produced from the ASRG will be used in charging A) re-chargeable battery: LiAl-FeS_2 re-chargeable batteryB) supercapacitors: for high power pulses.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
Power system:
ASRG: An ASRG produces electricity by a triple energy transformation: it first turns the thermal energy from the hot radioisotope fuel (decaying of e plutonium-238 (Pu-238)) into the high-speed kinetic motion of a small piston and its companion displacer. In turn, this magnetized piston oscillates back and forth through a coil of wire, thereby generating a flow of electrical energy (using a property of physics known as Faraday’s Law).
ASGR specifications:
· Electrical power output:130 Watt
· Mass: approximately 32 Kg
· Effiency:26%
Energy storage:
a) LiAl-Fe re-chargeable battery: Advanced high power density rechargeable batteries These batteries have the potential of greatly increasing the power and energy densities available for space applications. Depending on whether the system is optimized for high power or high energy, values up to 150 Wh/kg and 2100 W/kg. //specific energy??
The electrochemistry consists of a lithium aluminum alloy negative electrode, iron disulfide positive electrode, and magnesium oxide powder immobilized molten salt electrolyte.
2LiAl + FeS2 ⇔ Li2FeS2 + 2Al
LiAl-Fe specifications:
Operating temperature:410-475 °C
Life cycle: more than 1000 cycle
a) Supercapacitors:
Supercapacitors, especially the most recent versions, have improved specific energy. This is achieved through the substitution of one of the high surface area electrodes, with a lithium intercalating electrode. These capacitors, often termed asymmetric or lithium-ion capacitors, can achieve a specific energy of
15 Wh/kg. However, device characteristics are clearly capacitive, with charge and discharge behavior defined by capacitor equations.
How will power system work
The lander will have its own power system consist of previously mentioned components in an average 1x1 box all used to power surface tasks: motion, data collection.
The ASRG will be responsible for powering the wheels, torches and low power consuming tasks of the rover and charging the LiAl battery and capacitors.
The charged batteries will not be in continuous use as it will be used a secondary source and for high power consuming tasks. The battery will work in alternate with the ASRG as we estimate it to work for 7-8 daily while charging and resting the rest of day in order to increase its lifetime
The super capacitors in the cold box will be responsible in powering most of data collection tasks. As it stores the energy driven from the ASRG in form of electric field then can be used in form of high-power pulses lasting for an hour which will be perfect for application depends on stepping motors, radars, and data collection applications.
In order to minimize the risk of the design’s break down in the corrosive environment on the surface, we recommend using a space craft for the communication and data processing task to extend the lifetime of our mission
A space craft will fly 50-60 km above the rover will be fully powered by a solar-cell which will behave naturally as this area is an earth-like environment.
Space Agency Data
used information from previous venus' missions from NASA
used resources provided in the challenge section
Hackathon Journey
it was an exciting journey that helped us grow our communication skills and let us experience working under stress. give us the chance to share our ideas and extend our creativity boundaries and grow the teamwork spirit in us.
thank you for this chance.
References
1. How to Keep a Venus Rover Cool - Universe Today
2. Evaluation of Long Duration Flight on Venus ,Anthony J. Colozza Analex Corporation, Brook Park, Ohio Geoffrey A. Landis Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG)
4. Batteries for Venus Surface Operation Geoffrey A. Landis∗ NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 and Rachel Harrison† University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
5. Future of Venus Research and Exploration Lori S. Glaze1 · Colin F. Wilson2 · Liudmila V. Zasova3 · Masato Nakamura4 · Sanjay Limaye5
6. LONG DURATION VENUS PROBES AND LANDERS IPPW - JULY 2019 T. Kremic1 , M. S. Gilmore2 , G. W. Hunter1 , and C. M. Tolbert1 , 1NASA Glenn Research Center, 2Wesleyan University
7. VENUS SURFACE POWER AND COOLING SYSTEMS Geoffrey A. Landis1 and Kenneth C. Mellott NASA John Glenn Research Center 21000 Brook park Road, Cleveland OH 44135 USA
8. Energy Storage Technologies for Future Planetary Science Missions oncha Reid Langley Research Center Chuck Taylor Aerospace Corporation Simon Liu U.S. Army Ed Plichta NASA HQ Christopher Iannello Advisory / Editors Patricia M. Beauchamp James A. Cutts National Aeronautics and Space Administration Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California
Testing of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator Engineering Unit at NASA Glenn Research Center Edward J. Lewandowski Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio