A bimodal power and propulsion system based on cermet fuel and heat pipe energy transport
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Gunther (Norman A.), San Jose, CA (United States)
- Novatech, Lynchburg, VA (United States)
- Bixler (Charles H.), Mannford, OK (United States)
Bimodal space reactor systems provide both thermal propulsion for the spacecraft orbital transfer and electrical power to the spacecraft bus once it is on station. These systems have the potential to increase both the available payload in high energy orbits and the available power to that payload. These increased mass and power capabilities can be used to either reduce mission cost by permitting the use of smaller launch vehicles or to provide increased mission performance from the current launch vehicle. A major barrier to the deployment of these bimodal systems has been the cost associated with their development. This paper describes a bimodal reactor system with performance potential to permit more than 70% of the instrumented payload of the Titan IV/Centaur to be launched from the Atlas IIAS. The development cost is minimized by basing the design on existing component technologies.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 71378
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-95-0903C; CONF-950729-4; ON: DE95011890; TRN: 95:015362
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 30. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL (United States), 30 Jul - 5 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
DESIGN
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
POWER GENERATION
SPACE VEHICLES
REACTOR CORES
NUCLEAR FUELS
URANIUM OXIDES
TUNGSTEN ALLOYS
RHENIUM ALLOYS
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION
RADIATORS
REACTOR SAFETY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems