Materials in space nuclear power systems

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5341674

Cooper, R H; Moore, J P

Man's presence in space has been limited by the availability of reliable lightweight sources of power. Over the course of the last 30 years, a variety of space nuclear power systems have been designed and, in some cases, built and flown. Although a number of technology issues effect the overall performance of these systems, technical issues associated with the materials of construction have most often been a major limitation in obtaining the desired system performance goals. This paper will review selected materials limitations associated with the three major nuclear power systems being considered at this time: radioisotope power, nuclear power, and nuclear propulsion systems.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5341674
• Report Number(s): CONF-911107-28-Extd.Abst.; ON: DE91017688
• Resource Relation: Conference: Winter meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), San Francisco, CA (United States), 10-15 Nov 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
REACTOR MATERIALS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
ALLOYS
CERAMICS
COATED FUEL PARTICLES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUEL PARTICLES
FUELS
MATERIALS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
220800 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Propulsion Reactors
300300 - Thermoelectric Generators
360100 - Metals & Alloys
360200 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories