Heat pipe cooled heat rejection subsystem modelling for nuclear electric propulsion. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:5170738

Moriarty, M P

NASA LeRC is currently developing a FORTRAN based computer model of a complete nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) vehicle that can be used for piloted and cargo missions to the Moon or Mars. Proposed designs feature either a Brayton or a K-Rankine power conversion cycle to drive a turbine coupled with rotary alternators. Both ion and magnetoplasmodynamic (MPD) thrusters will be considered in the model. In support of the NEP model, Rocketdyne is developing power conversion, heat rejection, and power management and distribution (PMAD) subroutines. The subroutines will be incorporated into the NEP vehicle model which will be written by NASA LeRC. The purpose is to document the heat pipe cooled heat rejection subsystem model and its supporting subroutines. The heat pipe cooled heat rejection subsystem model is designed to provide estimate of the mass and performance of the equipment used to reject heat from Brayton and Rankine cycle power conversion systems. The subroutine models the ductwork and heat pipe cooled manifold for a gas cooled Brayton; the heat sink heat exchanger, liquid loop piping, expansion compensator, pump and manifold for a liquid loop cooled Brayton; and a shear flow condenser for a K-Rankine system. In each case, the final heat rejection is made by way of a heat pipe radiator. The radiator is sized to reject the amount of heat necessary.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5170738
• Report Number(s): N-94-24061; NASA-CR-191132; NAS-1.26:191132; CNN: NAS3-25808
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
HEAT PIPES
RADIATORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
BRAYTON CYCLE
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
RANKINE CYCLE
HEAT EXCHANGERS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTORS
SIMULATION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable