Mass Optimization of Power System for Space Applications
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
A Brayton cycle coupled to a direct cooled nuclear reactor is being designed and optimized for a space surface power application. Robust models for the various Brayton cycle components were developed and integrated. Separately, a nuclear reactor model which provides an optimized reactor mass for given flow conditions was developed. Then mass correlations for the size of the recuperative heat exchanger and radiator panel, along with the reactor mass model, were integrated with the cycle model, and an optimization algorithm was developed to find the least massive power system. The optimization routine is being used to explore the effects of turbine inlet temperature, cycle pressures, and other various cycle parameters on the full system mass.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- Contributing Organization:
- Creare, LLC; Sandia National Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- NE0008679
- OSTI ID:
- 1504230
- Report Number(s):
- 17-12481; 17-12481
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: American Nuclear Society Topical Meeting: Nuclear and Emerging Technologies (NETS) for Space 2019, February 25-28, 2019, Richland, WA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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