How useful is neutron diffusion theory for nuclear rocket engine design
- Ohio State Univ., Columbus (United States)
Correct modeling of neutron leakage and geometry effects is important in the design of a nuclear rocket engine because of the need for small reactor cores in space applications. In principle, there are generalized procedures that can account for these effects in a reliable manner (e.g., a three-dimensional, continuous-energy Monte Carlo calculation with all core components explicitly modeled). However, these generalized procedures are not usually suitable for parametric design studies because of the long computational times required, and the feasibility of using faster running, more approrimate neutronic modeling approaches needs to be investigated. Faster running neutronic models are also needed for simulator development to assess the engine performance during startup and power level changes. This paper investigates the potential of the few-group diffusion approach for nuclear rocket engine core design and optimization by comparing the k[sub eff] and power distributions obtained by the MCNP code against those obtained from the LEOPARD and 2DB codes for the particle bed reactor (PBR) concept described. The PBRs have been identified as one of the two near-term options for nuclear thermal propulsion by the joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/US Department of Energy/US Department of Defense program that was recently set up at the NASA Lewis Research Center to develop a flight-rated nuclear rocket engine by the 2020s.
- OSTI ID:
- 6683674
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921102-; CODEN: TANSAO
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States), Vol. 66; Conference: Joint American Nuclear Society (ANS)/European Nuclear Society (ENS) international meeting on fifty years of controlled nuclear chain reaction: past, present, and future, Chicago, IL (United States), 15-20 Nov 1992; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ROCKET ENGINES
DESIGN
L CODES
M CODES
MONTE CARLO METHOD
MULTIGROUP THEORY
NEUTRON DIFFUSION EQUATION
NEUTRON LEAKAGE
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PROPULSION REACTORS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ROCKETS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPUTER CODES
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ENGINES
EQUATIONS
NEUTRON TRANSPORT THEORY
REACTORS
TRANSPORT THEORY
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