The proposed technology will satisfy NASA's stated need for technology for power conversion from fission to support space exploration applications and specifically surface missions on the moon and Mars. The initial technology development will be suitable for space based stationary and transportation power generation systems This effort will lay the groundwork for subsequent scaling to higher power platforms (order of 100 kWe), capable of powering spacecraft on-board power, communication, navigation controls and electronics, life support systems, planetary rovers and machinery, and even planetary human settlements.
Besides space systems a large number of potential military and commercial customers would benefit from use of the proposed technology for microgrid and waste heat applications. Among these are distributed cogeneration from high-grade waste heat recovery (heating exhaust for residential use of the order of 1 kWe) to industrial (process waste heat in the order for generation of 100 kWe and higher) applications. Additionally, the U.S. military could benefit from direct application of the technology to both land based and mobile turboalternators including those used in forward operating base microgrids as efforts to reduce fuel consumption continue for the military as well as for power sources for UAVs, drones and even in advanced commercial air plane auxiliary power units.
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