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dragon04
Guest
Perhaps this topic belongs in Technology, and if a Moderator feels the need to put it there, that's fine.<br /><br />The thought ocurred to me that we take the wrong approach to generation of power for the ISS and any other applicable spacecraft.<br /><br />Rather than constructing and deploying expensive solar panels for electrical power generation for primary power, why do we not use a more simple and economical form of power generation.<br /><br />Think about the good old, relatively cheap, time tested humble generator.<br /><br />All one needs is a rotor turning within a stator, and we can produce electricity. Relatively low RPM wind generators do a pretty good job at generating electricity in a reliable manner.<br /><br />Now. In a wind generator, the fan blades are driven by wind and cause the rotator to turn and induce current in the stator to supply electricity.<br /><br />Now I ask you to think backwards.... Rather than the rotator turning, let's put two arms on the stator, use a stationary "rotor", and put rocket motors or even ion thrusters on the ends of those arms to turn the stator instead of the rotor to generate electricity.<br /><br />All we have to do is overcome the intitial force needed to get the stator rotating, and then provide sufficient momentum to overcome the friction loss through the bearings that's required to provide a steady 100 RPMS.<br /><br />Imagine a spacecraft or the ISS as a tube to simplify. One generator on the "fore" end and another on the "aft" end turning in opposing directions to maintain a stable orientation.<br /><br />The rotating stator itself does not experience the same resistance that it would in atmosphere; it doesnt have to move though air.<br /><br />This would be especially beneficial (and less reliant on radioactive power sources) at distances where solar panels cannot provide adequate power generation.<br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>