- #1
MattRob
- 211
- 29
So, let's say a spacecraft at a large distance from any star needs to dump a tremendous amount of stored electrical energy overboard in a limited timeframe.
Normally, spacecraft dump excess/waste energy using heat radiators. In this unusual case, however, the energy is electrical, and heat radiators require a tremendous amount of surface area that's already needed for other uses (that is, a tremendous amount of area would be needed to radiate this amount of energy, limited to roughly 2000*C, and in a reasonable timeframe, and most available surfaces on the craft are already taken with radiators for the powerplant and engines, due to waste heat).
Since it is already stored as electricity, would a radio transmitter work as a more effective means to dump this energy than heat radiators?
Electrical resistance goes down with temperature and eventually superconductivity is achieved, right? So could the antenna array be made superconducting to allow for an exceedingly low resistance?
Is there some kind of formula I could use to plot the amount of power this transmitting antenna is putting out given several parameters (such as it's size, it's temperature, etc)? That would probably be most helpful.
Normally, spacecraft dump excess/waste energy using heat radiators. In this unusual case, however, the energy is electrical, and heat radiators require a tremendous amount of surface area that's already needed for other uses (that is, a tremendous amount of area would be needed to radiate this amount of energy, limited to roughly 2000*C, and in a reasonable timeframe, and most available surfaces on the craft are already taken with radiators for the powerplant and engines, due to waste heat).
Since it is already stored as electricity, would a radio transmitter work as a more effective means to dump this energy than heat radiators?
Electrical resistance goes down with temperature and eventually superconductivity is achieved, right? So could the antenna array be made superconducting to allow for an exceedingly low resistance?
Is there some kind of formula I could use to plot the amount of power this transmitting antenna is putting out given several parameters (such as it's size, it's temperature, etc)? That would probably be most helpful.