Download or read book Multimegawatt Space Power Reactors written by and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In response to the need of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and long range space exploration and extra-terrestrial basing by the National Air and Space Administration (NASA), concepts for nuclear power systems in the multi-megawatt levels are being designed and evaluated. The requirements for these power systems are being driven primarily by the need to minimize weight and maximize safety and reliability. This paper will discuss the present requirements for space based advanced power systems, technological issues associated with the development of these advanced nuclear power systems, and some of the concepts proposed for generating large amounts of power in space. 31 figs.
Download or read book Multi Megawatt Space Nuclear Power Generation written by and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Capability for multi-megawatt nuclear power generation in space is examined and promising options identified. Nuclear power systems will generate approximately three times as much power as chemical systems, at the same rate of expenditure of consumables. In addition, the nuclear power system exhaust, if used for platform thrust, will have approximately twice the specific impulse of chemical systems. Three reactors options are compared NERVA and two particle bed reactors, the Fixed Bed Reactor (FBR), and the Rotating Bed Reactor (RBR). The particle bed reactors appear to have advantages of much faster startup capability, and reduced concern about reliability and fuel element failure. They also have somewhat smaller size and lower weight, but the benefits are marginal in terms of overall system weight. The FBR appears as the most attractive overall reactor system. It would operate bimodally, generating cw in the hundreds of kW(e) for station keeping, surveillance, defense purposes, etc, and high power, in the hundreds of MW(e), for pulsed energy devices.
Download or read book Nuclear Science written by and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book High temperature Radiation tolerant Electronics for the MMW Multi megawatt Space Reactor Program written by and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the objectives of the Multi-Megawatt (MMW) space reactor program is to determine, within the next five years, what types of power electronic devices would be suitable for MMW space power applications. Suitable devices must be able to withstand high temperatures and high radiation fields. After investigating the literature on solid state device and miniature vacuum tube technologies, we have concluded that the miniature vacuum tube technology is, currently, the most promising. The main reason for choosing this technology, is because miniature vacuum tubes can operate at very high temperatures (775 K or potentially higher) and are tolerant to very high neutron fluence and gamma dose. Although there are still problems to be solved before miniature vacuum tubes can be used, the time required for their development will be much shorter than the five year period required by the MMW space reactor program. 13 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.
Download or read book Space Nuclear Fission Electric Power Systems written by David Buden and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The advantages of space nuclear fission power systems can be summarized as: compact size; low to moderate mass; long operating lifetimes; the ability to operate in extremely hostile environments; operation independent of the distance from the Sun or of the orientation to the Sun; and high system reliability and autonomy. In fact, as power requirements approach the tens of kilowatts and megawatts, fission nuclear energy appears to be the only realistic power option. The building blocks for space nuclear fission electric power systems include the reactor as the heat source, power generation equipment to convert the thermal energy to electrical power, waste heat rejection radiators and shielding to protect the spacecraft payload. The power generation equipment can take the form of either static electrical conversion elements that have no moving parts (e.g., thermoelectric or thermionic) or dynamic conversion components (e.g., the Rankine, Brayton or Stirling cycle). The U.S. has only demonstrated in space, or even in full systems in a simulated ground environment, uranium-zirconium-hydride reactor power plants. These power plants were designed for a limited lifetime of one year and the mass of scaled up power plants would probably be unacceptable to meet future mission needs. Extensive development was performed on the liquid-metal cooled SP-100 power systems and components were well on their way to being tested in a relevant environment. A generic flight system design was completed for a seven year operating lifetime power plant, but not built or tested. The former USSR made extensive use of space reactors as a power source for radar ocean reconnaissance satellites. They launched some 31 missions using reactors with thermoelectric power conversion systems and two with thermionic converters. Current activities are centered on Fission Surface Power for lunar applications. Activities are concentrating on demonstrating component readiness. This book will discuss the components that make up a nuclear fission power system, the principal requirements and safety issues, various development programs, status of developments, and development issues.
Download or read book Space Nuclear Power Conversion and Energy Storage for the Nineties and Beyond written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Space Nuclear Reactor Program written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and published by . This book was released on 1983 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power Systems McNsps Conceptual Design and Evaluation Report Volume 2 Technologies 1 written by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-07-18 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The objectives of the Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power System (MCNSPS) study are summarized and candidate systems and subsystems are described. Particular emphasis is given to the heat rejection system and the space reactor subsystem. Wetch, J. R. Unspecified Center HEAT PIPES; HEAT RADIATORS; REACTOR DESIGN; SPACE POWER REACTORS; SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES; EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS; NUCLEAR FUELS; NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL; REACTOR SAFETY; SYSTEMS ENGINEERING; WORKING FLUIDS...
Download or read book Development of a Robust Tri carbide Fueled Reactor for Multi megawatt Space Power and Propulsion Applications written by Samim Anghaie and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An innovative reactor core design based on advanced, mixed carbide fuels was analyzed for nuclear space power applications. Solid solution, mixed carbide fuels such as (U, Zr, Nb)c and (U, Zr, Ta)C offer great promise as an advanced high temperature fuel for space power reactors. This study addressed the difficulties of fabricating these solid solution fuels in traditional space reactor forms and developed methods of processing these high temperature fuels to support the fabrication of the innovative square lattice honeycomb (SLHC) fuel design. The design, in addition to better lending itself to net-shape fabrication with these advanced fuels, also permits the development of an entire class of propulsion systems from 25 to 250 kN thrust with hydrogen exit temperatures of 2800 to 3000 K for an Isp of 930 to almost 1000 seconds.
Download or read book Nuclear Power in Space written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Models for Multimegawatt Space Power Systems written by and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report describes models for multimegawatt, space power systems which Sandia's Advanced Power Systems Division has constructed to help evaluate space power systems for SDI's Space Power Office. Five system models and models for associated components are presented for both open (power system waste products are exhausted into space) and closed (no waste products) systems: open, burst mode, hydrogen cooled nuclear reactor -- turboalternator system; open, hydrogen-oxygen combustion turboalternator system; closed, nuclear reactor powered Brayton cycle system; closed, liquid metal Rankine cycle system; and closed, in-core, reactor therminonic system. The models estimate performance and mass for the components in each of these systems. 17 refs., 8 figs., 15 tabs.
Download or read book Models for Multimegawatt Space Power Systems written by Michael W. Edenburn and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report describes models for multimegawatt, space power systems which Sandia's Advanced Power Systems Division has constructed to help evaluate space power systems for SDI's Space Power Office. Five system models and models for associated components are presented for both open (power system waste products are exhausted into space) and closed (no waste products) systems: (1) Open, burst mode, hydrogen cooled nuclear reactor turbo alternator system; (2) Open, hydrogen and oxygen combustion turbo alternator system; (3) Closed, nuclear reactor powered Brayton cycle system; (4) Closed, liquid metal Rankine cycle system; and (5). Closed, in-core, reactor thermionic system. The models estimate performance and mass for the components in each of these systems.
Download or read book The SP 100 Space Reactor Power System Program written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Thermal Hydraulics for Space Power Propulsion and Thermal Management System Design written by William J. Krotiuk and published by AIAA. This book was released on 1990 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Heat Pipe Cooled Reactors for Multi kilowatt Space Power Supplies written by and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 7 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Three nuclear reactor space power system designs are described that demonstrate how the use of high temperature heat pipes for reactor heat transport, combined with direct conversion of heat to electricity, can result in eliminating pumped heat transport loops for both primary reactor cooling and heat rejection. The result is a significant reduction in system complexity that leads to very low mass systems with high reliability, especially in the power range of 1 to 20 kWe. In addition to removing heat exchangers, electromagnetic pumps, and coolant expansion chambers, the heat pipe/direct conversion combination provides such capabilities as startup from the frozen state, automatic rejection of reactor decay heat in the event of emergency or accidental reactor shutdown, and the elimination of single point failures in the reactor cooling system. The power system designs described include a thermoelectric system that can produce 1 to 2 kWe, a bimodal modification of this system to increase its power level to 5 kWe and incorporate high temperature hydrogen propulsion capability, and a moderated thermionic reactor concept with 5 to 20 kWe power output that is based on beryllium modules that thermally couple cylindrical thermionic fuel elements (TFEs) to radiator heat pipes.
Download or read book Cermet fueled Reactor System for Open Cycle Multimegawatt Burst Space Power Application written by American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Winter Annual Meeting and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The cermet-fueled fast spectrum reactor is a potential power source for a broad range of multimegawatt space applications. In this paper, a fast spectrum reactor concept is used to deliver burst power for several hundred seconds. The system uses a hydrogen gas coolant in a Brayton power conversion cycle. Expensive development and testing of the cermet fuel element has demonstrated that the fuel is capable of operating at very high temperatures under repeated thermal cycling conditions, including transient conditions which approach the multimegawatt burst power requirements. The cermet fuel test performance is reviewed and a cermet-fueled multimegawatt nuclear reactor system is described in this paper.
Download or read book Multi Megawatt Power System Analysis Report written by and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Missions to the outer planets or to near-by planets requiring short times and/or increased payload carrying capability will benefit from nuclear power. A concept study was undertaken to evaluate options for a multi-megawatt power source for nuclear electric propulsion. The nominal electric power requirement was set at 15 MWe with an assumed mission profile of 120 days at full power, 60 days in hot standby, and another 120 days of full power, repeated several times for 7 years of service. Of the numerous options considered, two that appeared to have the greatest promise were a gas-cooled reactor based on the NERVA Derivative design, operating a closed cycle Brayton power conversion system; and a molten lithium-cooled reactor based on SP-100 technology, driving a boiling potassium Rankine power conversion system. This study examined the relative merits of these two systems, seeking to optimize the specific mass. Conclusions were that either concept appeared capable of approaching the specific mass goal of 3-5 kg/kWe estimated to be needed for this class of mission, though neither could be realized without substantial development in reactor fuels technology, thermal radiator mass efficiency, and power conversion and distribution electronics and systems capable of operating at high temperatures. Though the gas-Brayton systems showed an apparent advantage in specific mass, differences in the degree of conservatism inherent in the models used suggests expectations for the two approaches may be similar. Brayton systems eliminate the need to deal with two-phase flows in the microgravity environment of space.
