Heat shielding

Sean Girling · Posted on: Mon Mar 22, 2004 12:53 pm

Is there anyway to use the heat? Turn it into electrical energy which in turn could run a refrigerant system to cool the remaining heat from the shield? Like those solar panels that heat salts in pipes that then produce power before being pumped back into the system, couldn't we just use the heat of reentry to heat these salts, use the heated salts to generate power (stirling engine style), then run the now cooled salts back into the shield to both cool and start the cycle again.

You'd still need some exotic materials for the surface but if the heat is being moved away and used, then the thickness might be reduced.

But of course, it's just an idea!

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Sean Girling Space Walker Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2003 8:23 am Posts: 195 Location: Lincoln, England	Posted on: Mon Mar 22, 2004 12:53 pm Is there anyway to use the heat? Turn it into electrical energy which in turn could run a refrigerant system to cool the remaining heat from the shield? Like those solar panels that heat salts in pipes that then produce power before being pumped back into the system, couldn't we just use the heat of reentry to heat these salts, use the heated salts to generate power (stirling engine style), then run the now cooled salts back into the shield to both cool and start the cycle again. You'd still need some exotic materials for the surface but if the heat is being moved away and used, then the thickness might be reduced. But of course, it's just an idea! _________________ Sean Girling Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.
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Ekkehard Augustin Moderator Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:23 am Posts: 3745 Location: Hamburg, Germany	Posted on: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:14 am Would the suborbital meant heatshields discussed in this thread be sufficient for landings on Mars by reusable vehicles? ... Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)
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