The effect of operating temperature on open, multimegawatt space power systems

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6434847

Edenburn, M W

This study addresses reactor powered and combustion powered multimegawatt, burst mode, space power systems to evaluate the effect turbine inlet temperature will have on their performance and mass. Both systems will provide power to space based antiballistic missile weapons that require hydrogen for cooling, and both use this hydrogen coolant as a working fluid or as a fuel for power generation. The quantity of hydrogen needed for weapon cooling increases as the weapon's cooling load increases and as weapon coolant outlet temperature decreases. Also, the hydrogen needed by the turbines in both power systems increases as turbine inlet temperature decreases. When weapon cooling loads are above 40% to 50% of weapon power and weapon coolant outlet temperature is below 300 K to 400 K, the weapon needs more hydrogen than the turbine in either the reactor or combustion powered systems using turbine inlet temperatures consistent with current material technology. There is therefore very little system mass reduction to be gained by operating a burst mode power system at a turbine inlet temperature above present material temperature limits unless the weapon's cooling load is below 40% to 50% or coolant outlet temperature is above 300 K to 400 K. Furthermore, the combustion system's mass increases as turbine inlet temperature increases because oxygen inventory increases with increased turbine inlet temperature.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6434847
• Report Number(s): SAND-86-1813C; CONF-870102-26; ON: DE87011311
• Resource Relation: Conference: 4. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM, USA, 12 Jan 1987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
COOLANTS
HYDROGEN COOLED REACTORS
MASS
PERFORMANCE
SPACE WEAPONS
TURBINES
GAS COOLED REACTORS
MACHINERY
MOBILE REACTORS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
POWER PLANTS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
TURBOMACHINERY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
300502 - Fuel Cells- Performance & Testing