The liquid annular reactor system (LARS) propulsion

Conference · Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 EST 1991 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.40114· OSTI ID:5489262

Maise, G; Lazareth, O W; Horn, F; Powell, J R; Ludewig, H ^[1]; Lenard, R X ^[2]

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1. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Department of Nuclear Energy, Upton, NY (USA)
2. SDIO The Pentagon, Washington, DC (USA)

A new concept for very high specific impulse ({gt}2000 seconds) direct nuclear propulsion is described. The concept, termed LARS (Liquid Annular Reactor System) uses liquid nuclear fuel elements to heat hydrogen propellant to very high temperatures ({similar to}6000 K). Operating pressure is moderate ({similar to}10 atm), with the result that the outlet hydrogen is virtually 100% dissociated to monatomic H. The molten fuel is contained in a solid container of its own material, which is rotated to stabilize the liquid layer by centripetal force. LARS reactor designs are described, together with neutronic and thermal-hydraulic analyses. Power levels are on the order of 200 megawatts. Typically, LARS designs use 7 rotating fuel elements, are beryllium moderated and have critical radii of {similar to}100 cm (core L/D{approx}1.5).

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5489262
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116-; CODEN: APCPC
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Vol. 217:2; Conference: 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 6-10 Jan 1991; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
DESIGN
HYDROGEN
LIQUID FUELS
NEUTRON FLUX
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER
REACTOR FUELING
SPACE VEHICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUELS
HEAT TRANSFER
MOBILE REACTORS
NONMETALS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
RADIATION FLUX
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
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