AMTEC转换空间堆系统负荷跟踪特性研究

Study on Load-Following of an AMTEC Space Reactor Power System

研究了采用碱金属热电转换(AMTEC)、热管冷却的空间堆电源系统的负荷跟踪特性。分析了外部负载电阻及冷热端温度对模块化AMTEC性能的影响,利用TAPIRS程序分析了AMTEC转换空间堆系统在负载需求变化下的瞬态响应以及系统负荷跟踪特性。结果表明:随着外部负载电阻的增大,AMTEC热电转换效率及输出电功率都先增大到最大值,然后逐渐减小,存在临界外部负载电阻值使得AMTEC热电转换效率和输出电功率达到最大,但这2个临界值不相等;虽然空间堆具有负荷跟踪特性,但系统的固有负荷跟踪特性仅在大于临界外部负载电阻值时存在,当小于此外部负载电阻值时,空间堆系统表现为非负荷跟踪特性。

This paper investigates the load-following characteristics of an AMTEC converted and heat pipe cooled space reactor power system. The effects of the external load and AMTEC temperature on module AMTEC performance were analyzed, and the response of the AMTEC space reactor power system to a load demand change and load-following characteristics were also analyzed by using TAPIRS code. The results show that AMTEC efficiency and output electric power both firstly increase to maximum value, and then decrease with external load resistance. There is a certain external load value which makes the efficiency or electric power up to peak value, but the two certain values are different. Although the space reactor is with the characteristic of load following, the AMTEC space reactor power system only follows the load when the external load demands exceed the critical value, otherwise the system has no response to the load change..