Thermionic space reactors overview

Conference · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5387646

Wetch, J R; Britt, E J; Fitzpatrick, G O; Rasor, N S

The multi-national development of thermionic reactor systems is summarized in the context of the past general space nuclear reactor program and the recent renewed interest in space nuclear power. Comparison of various alternate reactor space power systems indicates that only the in-core thermionic reactor approach has the performance and growth potential required to provide the power levels potentially needed for shuttle-launchable systems by the year 2000 at reactor coolant and system temperatures that are near the current state-of-the-art. It is concluded that all shuttle- launchable high power space reactor systems require high-temperature, long-endurance nuclear fuels, and that high priority characterization and development of such fuels is essential to successfully realize power systems that can enable the space missions presently being considered.

• Research Organization: Space Power Inc., Sunnyvale, CA
• OSTI ID: 5387646
• Report Number(s): CONF-830812-; TRN: 84-004810
• Journal Information: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Vol. 1; Conference: 18. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 Aug 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMIONIC REACTORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
NUCLEAR FUELS
POWER SYSTEMS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
SERVICE LIFE
SPACE SHUTTLES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
AIRCRAFT
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
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