Space power reactor in-core thermionic multicell evolutionary (S-prime) design

Conference · Tue Jan 19 23:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43134· OSTI ID:5535090

Determan, W R ^[1]; Van Hagan, T H ^[2]

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1. Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International, 6633 Canoga Avenue, P.O. Box 7922, anoga Park, California 91309-7922 (United States)
2. General Atomics, P.O. Box 85608, San Diego, California 92186-9784 (United States)

A 5- to 40-kWe moderated in-core thermionic space nuclear power system (TI-SNPS) concept was developed to address the TI-SNPS program requirements. The 40-kWe baseline design uses multicell Thermionic Fuel Elements (TFEs) in a zirconium hydride moderated reactor to achieve a specific mass of 18.2 We/kg and a net end-of-mission (EOM) efficiency of 8.2%. The reactor is cooled with a single NaK-78 pumped loop, which rejects the heat through a 24 m[sup 2] heat pipe space radiator.

• OSTI ID: 5535090
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States) Vol. 271:3; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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