Summary

Description

Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) space power system is one of the most efficient energy conversion technologies for nuclear and solar electric propulsion. The recuperator is critical to enhance CBC efficiency. An advanced light weight recuperator was proposed to significantly reduce the mass (up to 70%) of the State-of-Art (SOA) metallic recuperator and to improve its performance by using advanced high conductivity carbon-based materials. In phase I, prototype cores were fabricated and tested successfully. In Phase II, performance of recuperator cores will be investigated in detail, integration technologies will be improved, structural and assembly issues will be addressed, a 30 ~ 50 kWt subscale recuperator will be designed, prototyped and tested.