VORTEX CONTAINMENT FOR THE GASEOUS-FISSION ROCKET

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · J. Aero/Space Sci.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/8.9153· OSTI ID:4804647

Kerrebrock, J L; Meghreblian, R V

The possibility of retaining fissionable material, in gaseous form, in the pressure field of a vortex, while low molecular weight propellant diffuses radially inward through it, is studied. The study is made in regards to the nuclear rocket where it seems clear that the full potential can be realized only if the fissionable material can be retained in gaseous form, and its fission energy transferred directly to the propellant. A two-dimensional, laminar, vortex flow is studied, the propellant being introduced tangentially at the periphery and withdrawn at the center. The mass-flow capacity of the vortex, per unit of vortex length, is found to be independent of the vortex diameter, so that a large number of small-diameter vortices filling a given volume will have a much larger mass-flow capacity than a single vortex of the same volume. At tangential Mach numbers of the order of unity in a mixture of hydrogen and plutonium, the mass-flow capacity is of the order of 0.01 pounds per second-foot. If the vortex pressure gradient decreases monotonically outward, it is possible to maintain the heavy gas in a highly peaked distribution, away from both the center and the periphery of the vortex; however, for very high heating rates, or very large temperature ratios, the pressure gradient cannot decrease monotonically outward, and in this case the concentration of heavy gas near the periphery of the vortex will be very high. Insofar as the vortex containment mechanism limits the gaseous nuclear rockets, its performance potential is very high. (N.W.R.)

• Research Organization: California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-009722
• OSTI ID: 4804647
• Journal Information: J. Aero/Space Sci., Journal Name: J. Aero/Space Sci. Vol. Vol: 28
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
GAS COOLANT
GAS FLOW
GAS FUEL
GASES
HEATING
HYDROGEN
INJECTION
JETS
MACH NUMBER
MASS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
PERFORMANCE
PLUTONIUM
PRESSURE
PROPULSION
REACTORS
ROCKETS
SPACE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
TEMPERATURE
TURBULENCE
VELOCITY
VORTEX FLOW