New NASA Administrator Sean O`Keefe inspects two operating Stirling convertors during his first visit to GRC on January 24th, 2002
VIPs Tour Dynamic Power - from left to right in the foreground: Senator John Glenn, GRC Center Director Donald Campbell, NASA Administrator Sean O`Keefe, John Dunning (6900), Jeff Schreiber (5490), and 5400 Chief Valerie Lyons. On the Right, a mock up of a Brayton engine, and two operating Stirling convertors
Administrator O`Keefe balances a nickel on one of the operating low vibration Stirling convertors

GRC has actively been involved with Stirling technology for over 25 years including large free-piston engines, small free-piston radioisotope systems, automotive kinematic engines, and component technologies. Current 5490 activity focuses on free-piston Stirling convertors for deep space missions:

• Stirling Radioisotope Power System for Deep Space Missions
• Deep Space Solar Stirling Power System
• (2/00) GRC Assessment of Stirling Technology Provides Critical Data Leading Towards Flight Readiness
• (11/00) 55 Watt Stirling Power Convertors Operating at GRC!
• (12/00) Test Schedule and Test Data for the 55 Watt TDC's
• (1/01) 55 Watt Stirling TDC's Completes Microgravity Emissions Lab (MEL) Testing
• (3/01) First integrated Stirling/Hall Thruster Test
• (5/01) TDC's undergoing Structural Dynamics Testing

The below links are included for reference and historical information regarding past work.

• How does a Stirling Engine Work (slide tutorial)
• Stirling Technology at GRC: Background
• Advanced Refrigerator/Freezer Development Project
• Advanced Stirling Conversion System (Solar Stirling)
• Space Stirling Engines
  • Large Free-Piston Stirling Engines, 12.5 kWe per cylinder
  • Small, Radioisotope Stirling Engines
• Stirling Component Technology
• Stirling Performance Codes
• Stirling Oscillating-Flow Research
• Automotive Stirling Engine Development Project

Animation of a 55 We Stirling TDC
(click on image to view)

Want to see more Stirling animations? Click HERE!

since 1/24/01

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Curator: Wayne A. Wong
  NASA Official Responsible For Content:  Richard K. Shaltens
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Last Updated: 08/08/2002