A Radioisotope Stirling Surface Power Unit for Titan: Heat Source, Conversion and Rejection Sizing

This study sizes the Titan surface system named in its title for operation in the Titan surface environment, and reports the result as SIMULATED, NOT MEASURED. The design is developed from stated physical relations and a shared environmental basis, and every performance figure is computed by the deposited script rather than asserted. Among the computed results are net electrical power at beginning of life of 255 watts, heat source thermal power of 1,000 watts, plutonium-238 isotope mass of 1.76 kilograms. Mass and power budgets are assembled from components so that they can be audited, off-design behaviour and materials uncertainty are discussed openly, and the limits of the sizing are stated in full. The power unit is a civilian electricity supply for remote science stations, using a sealed radioisotope heat source of the kind flown on peaceful deep-space missions; it is a power supply only, with no other application.