Uranium arc fission reactor for space propulsion

Conference · Sat Jan 05 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.40115· OSTI ID:5373731

Watanabe, Y; Maya, I; Vitali, J; Appelbaum, J ^[1]; Schneider, R T ^[2]

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1. Innovative Nuclear Space Power Institute, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL (USA)
2. RTS Laboratory, Inc., 1663 Technology Avenue, Alachua, FL (USA)

Combining the proven technology of solid core reactors with uranium arc confinement and non-equilibrium ionization by fission fragments can lead to an attractive propulsion system which has a higher specific impulse than a solid core propulsion system and higher thrust than an electric propulsion systems. A preliminary study indicates that a system with 300 MW of fission power can achieve a gas exhaust velocity of 18,000 m/sec and a thrust of 10,000 Newtons utilizing a magnetohydrodynamic generator and accelerator. An experimental program is underway to examine the major mass and energy transfer issues.

• OSTI ID: 5373731
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Journal Volume: 217:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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