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U.S. Department of Energy
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Potassium Rankine cycle nuclear power systems for spacecraft and lunar-mass surface power

Conference ·
OSTI ID:10159948

The potassium Rankine cycle has high potential for application to nuclear power systems for spacecraft and surface power on the moon and Mars. A substantial effort on the development of Rankine cycle space power systems was carried out in the 1960`s. That effort is summarized and the status of the technology today is presented. Space power systems coupling Rankine cycle power conversion to both the SP-100 reactor and thermionic reactors as a combined power cycle are described in the paper.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
10159948
Report Number(s):
CONF-920803--10; ON: DE92016163
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English