A preliminary feasibility study of passive in-core thermionic reactors for highly compact space nuclear power systems
Abstract
Results of a preliminary feasibility study on a new concept for a highly compact space reactor power systems are presented. Notwithstanding the preliminary nature of the present study, the results which include a new space reactor configuration and its associated technologies indicate promising avenues for the development of highly compact space reactors. The calculations reported in this study include a neutronic design trade-off study using a two-dimensional neutron transport model, as well as a simplified one-dimensional thermal analysis of the reactor core. In arriving at the most desirable configuration, various options have been considered and analyzed, and their advantages/disadvantages have been compared. However, because of space limitation, only the most favorable reactor configuration is presented in this summary. Ongoing studies on potential future space missions indicate that extremely compact nuclear reactor systems with low specific mass will be required to provide power in the tens to hundreds of kWe range. Therefore, it is the intent of this study to examine all available technologies that could potentially result in highly compact space reactor configurations in the desired power range.
- Publication:
-
Space Nuclear Power Systems
- Pub Date:
- 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991snpw.proc.1082P
- Keywords:
-
- Feasibility Analysis;
- Reactor Design;
- Space Power Reactors;
- Spacecraft Power Supplies;
- Thermionic Power Generation;
- Reactor Cores;
- Thermal Analysis;
- Tradeoffs;
- Spacecraft Propulsion and Power