Studies of PuF6 and transplutonic materials' critical properties for space high power nuclear pumped lasers
Abstract
All space missions require a reliable, compact source of energy. This paper describes preliminary neutronics studies of 'pocket' reactor concepts employing PuF6 and transplutonic materials as fuels for space high power/energy Nuclear Pumped Lasers (NPLs). Previous research has studied NPL reactor concepts with thin fuel layers, aerosol fuels and gaseous UF6. The total reactor volumes for compact reactors with these types of fuels typically range from 3 to 50 cu m. By employing PuF6 and transplutonic fuels at the same low densities, a calculated value for K(eff) of 1.2 has been achieved for conditions of 900 K and 5 atm, with total reactor volumes of 1.5 cu m for PuF6, 0.51 cu m for Am-242 m, 0.58 cu m for Cm-245 and 0.63 cu m for Cf-249.
- Publication:
-
Space Nuclear Power Systems
- Pub Date:
- 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991snpw.proc..211G
- Keywords:
-
- Gaseous Fuels;
- High Power Lasers;
- Nuclear Fuels;
- Nuclear Pumped Lasers;
- Plutonium Fluorides;
- Space Power Reactors;
- Moderators;
- Reactor Design;
- Spacecraft Propulsion and Power