Start-Up Simulation of a Thermionic Space Nuclear Reactor System

Conference · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43119· OSTI ID:5587776

El-Genk, M. S. ^[1]; Xue, H. ^[1]; Paramonov, D. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Institute for Space Nuclear Power Studies, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering

The Thermionic Transient Analysis Model (TITAM) is used in this paper to simulate the start-up of the TOPAZ-II space nuclear power system in orbit. The start-up procedures simulated herein are assumed for the purpose of demonstrating the capabilities of the model and may not represent an accurate account of the actual start-up procedures of the TOPAZ-II system. The temperature reactivity feedback effects of the moderator, UO₂ fuel, electrodes, coolant, and other components in the core are calculated and their effects on the thermal and criticality conditions of the reactor are investigated. Also, estimates of the time constants of the temperature reactivity feedback for the UO₂ fuel and the Zirconium Hydride (ZrH) moderator during start-up, as well as of the total temperature reactivity feedback as a function of the reactor steady-state thermal power, are obtained.

• Research Organization: Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Institute for Space Nuclear Power Studies, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• OSTI ID: 5587776
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103-; CODEN: APCPCS
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 271, Issue 2; Conference: 10. Symposium on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 10-14 Jan 1993; ISSN 0094-243X
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
TOPAZ REACTOR
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
REACTOR START-UP
CONTROL ELEMENTS
COOLANTS
CRITICALITY
MODERATORS
NEUTRON REFLECTORS
REACTIVITY INSERTIONS
REACTIVITY WORTHS
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS
THERMIONIC REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HYDRIDE MODERATED REACTORS
MOBILE REACTORS
OPERATION
POWER REACTORS
REACTIVITY COEFFICIENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SIMULATION
START-UP
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Thermionic Transient Analysis Model (TITAM)
TOPAZ-II
Space Nuclear Power System
Uranium Oxide (UO2)
Zirconium Hydride
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
300401 - Thermionic Converters- Design & Development