Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power Systems (MCNSPS) conceptual design and evaluation report. Volume 1. Objectives, summary results and introduction. Final report
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:5433461
The objective was to determine which reactor, conversion, and radiator technologies would best fulfill future Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power System Requirements. Specifically, the requirement was 10 megawatts for 5 years of full power operation and 10 years systems life on orbit. A variety of liquid metal and gas cooled reactors, static and dynamic conversion systems, and passive and dynamic radiators were considered. Four concepts were selected for more detailed study. The concepts are: a gas cooled reactor with closed cycle Brayton turbine-alternator conversion with heat pipe and pumped tube-fin heat rejection; a lithium cooled reactor with a free piston Stirling engine-linear alternator and a pumped tube-fin radiator; a lithium cooled reactor with potassium Rankine turbine-alternator and heat pipe radiator; and a lithium cooled incore thermionic static conversion reactor with a heat pipe radiator. The systems recommended for further development to meet a 10 megawatt long life requirement are the lithium cooled reactor with the K-Rankine conversion and heat pipe radiator, and the lithium cooled incore thermionic reactor with heat pipe radiator.
- Research Organization:
- Space Power, Inc., San Jose, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5433461
- Report Number(s):
- N-89-17941; NASA-CR--179614-VOL-1; NAS--1.26:179614-VOL-1; SPI--25-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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210600* -- Power Reactors
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Mobile Package
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BRAYTON CYCLE
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ENGINES
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LITHIUM COOLED REACTORS
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NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
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RADIATORS
RANKINE CYCLE
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210600* -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
BRAYTON CYCLE
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENGINES
GAS COOLED REACTORS
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT PIPES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LITHIUM COOLED REACTORS
MOBILE REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER REACTORS
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATORS
RANKINE CYCLE
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPECIFICATIONS
STIRLING ENGINES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES