Nuclear Design of a Vapor Core Reactor for Space Nuclear Propulsion

Conference · Fri Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43212· OSTI ID:5460740

Dugan, E. T. ^[1]; Watanabe, Y. ^[1]; Kuras, S. A. ^[1]; Maya, I. ^[1]; Diaz, N. J. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Inst.

Neutronic analysis methodology and results are presented for the nuclear design of a vapor core reactor for space nuclear propulsion. The Nuclear Vapor Thermal Reactor (NVTR) Rocket Engine uses modified NERVA geometry and systems which the solid fuel replaced by uranium tetrafluoride vapor. The NVTR is an intermediate term gas core thermal rocket engine with specific impulse in the range of 1000--1200 seconds; a thrust of 75,000 lbs. for a hydrogen flow rate of 30 kg/s; average core exit temperatures of 3100 K to 3400 K; and reactor thermal powers of 1400 to 1800 MW. Initial calculations were performed on epithermal NVTRs using Zirconium Carbide (ZrC) fuel elements. Studies are now directed at thermal NVTRs that use fuel elements made of Carbon-Carbon (C-C) composite. The large ZrC-moderated reactors resulted in thrust-to-weight ratios of only 1 to 2; the compact C-C composite systems yield thrust-to-weight ratios of 3 to 5.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Inst.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• OSTI ID: 5460740
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 2 Journal Volume: 271
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CRITICALITY
Carbon-Carbon (C-C) composite
DESIGN
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FLUID FUELED REACTORS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GAS FUELED REACTORS
GRAPHITE
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
HYDROGEN
MINERALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NERVA geometry
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NONMETALS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Nuclear Vapor Thermal Reactor (NVTR) Rocket Engine
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
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TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 1000-4000 K
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URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES
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Zirconium carbide (ZrC)