Exergy Efficiency of Interplanetary Transfer Vehicles

Owen, Sean T ; Watson, Michael D ; Rodriguez, Mitchell A

关键词: EXERGY;    INTERPLANETARY TRAJECTORIES;    PROPULSIVE EFFICIENCY;    SYSTEMS ENGINEERING;    MARS MISSIONS;    NUCLEAR PROPULSION;    CHEMICAL PROPULSION;    METHANE;    LIQUID HYDROGEN;    LIQUID OXYGEN;   

RP-ID  :  M18-6631

学科分类：航空航天科学

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

In order to optimize systems, systems engineers require some sort of measure with which to compare vastly different system components. One such measure is system exergy, or the usable system work. Exergy balance analysis models provide a comparison of different system configurations, allowing systems engineers to compare different systems configuration options. This paper presents the exergy efficiency of several Mars transportation system configurations, using data on the interplanetary trajectory, engine performance, and vehicle mass. The importance of the starting and final parking orbits is addressed in the analysis, as well as intermediate hyperbolic escape and entry orbits within Earth and Mars' spheres of influence (SOIs). Propulsion systems analyzed include low-enriched uranium (LEU) nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), high-enriched uranium (HEU) NTP, LEU methane (CH4) NTP, and liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) chemical propulsion.