Application of the enabler to nuclear electric propulsion

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.40013· OSTI ID:5702527

Pierce, B L ^[1]

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1. Westinghouse Electric Corporation Advanced Energy Systems P.O Box 158 Madison, PA 15663-0158 (US)

This paper describes a power system concept that provides the electric power for a baseline electric propulsion system for a piloted mission to Mars. A 10-MWe space power system is formed by coupling an Enabler reactor with a simple non-recuperated closed Brayton cycle. The Enabler reactor is a gas-cooled reactor based on proven reactor technology developed under the NERVA/Rover programs. The selected power cycle, which uses a helium-xenon mixture at 1920 K at the turbine inlet, is diagramed and described. The specific mass of the power system over the power range from 5 to 70 MWe is given. The impact of operating life on the specific mass of a 10-MWe system is also shown.

• OSTI ID: 5702527
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116-; CODEN: APCPC
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA), Vol. 217:1; Conference: 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 6-10 Jan 1991; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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MARS SPACE PROBES
POWER GENERATION
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MOBILE REACTORS
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