SNAP 8 reactor and shield
Abstract
SNAP 8 is a nuclear powerplant intended to produce approximately 30 kw of electric power output for use in spacecraft. The system employs a nuclear reactor as the heat source for a mercury Rankine cycle power conversion system. Information is given on the design of the SNAP 8 reactor and shield, the performance requirements, design, weight, and operating characteristics of the SNAP 8 reactor are suramarized and a typical shield is discussed. The effects of spacecraft configuration and payload dose tolerance on shield weight for unmanned spacecraft are discussed. Approximate relationships are presented to facilitate rough estimates of shield weights for preliminary design studies of unmanned spacecraft employing the SNAP 8 reactor. (auth)
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Atomics International, Canoga Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4875647
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-10-60; Preprint-63033
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-033392
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(11-1)-GEN-8
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: AIAA Electric Propulsion Conference, Colorado Springs, CO (United States), 11-13 Mar 1963
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- SPACE APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY; CONFIGURATION; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRICITY; FLUID FLOW; HEAT TRANSFER; HEATING; LIQUID METAL COOLANT; MERCURY; OPERATION; PAYLOAD; PLANNING; POWER; POWER PLANTS; RADIATION DOSES; REACTORS; SHIELDING; SNAP-8 SERIES; SPACE VEHICLES; STEAM; THERMODYNAMICS; WEIGHT; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
Citation Formats
Johnson, C. A., and Goetz, C. A. SNAP 8 reactor and shield. United States: N. p., 1963.
Web.
Johnson, C. A., & Goetz, C. A. SNAP 8 reactor and shield. United States.
Johnson, C. A., and Goetz, C. A. 1963.
"SNAP 8 reactor and shield". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/4875647.
@article{osti_4875647,
title = {SNAP 8 reactor and shield},
author = {Johnson, C. A. and Goetz, C. A.},
abstractNote = {SNAP 8 is a nuclear powerplant intended to produce approximately 30 kw of electric power output for use in spacecraft. The system employs a nuclear reactor as the heat source for a mercury Rankine cycle power conversion system. Information is given on the design of the SNAP 8 reactor and shield, the performance requirements, design, weight, and operating characteristics of the SNAP 8 reactor are suramarized and a typical shield is discussed. The effects of spacecraft configuration and payload dose tolerance on shield weight for unmanned spacecraft are discussed. Approximate relationships are presented to facilitate rough estimates of shield weights for preliminary design studies of unmanned spacecraft employing the SNAP 8 reactor. (auth)},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4875647},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 1963},
month = {Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 1963}
}