A review of gas-cooled reactor concepts for SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) applications

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5619371· OSTI ID:5619371

Marshall, A C

We have completed a review of multimegawatt gas-cooled reactor concepts proposed for SDI applications. Our study concluded that the principal reason for considering gas-cooled reactors for burst-mode operation was the potential for significant system mass savings over closed-cycle systems if open-cycle gas-cooled operation (effluent exhausted to space) is acceptable. The principal reason for considering gas-cooled reactors for steady-state operation is that they may represent a lower technology risk than other approaches. In the review, nine gas-cooled reactor concepts were compared to identify the most promising. For burst-mode operation, the NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) derivative reactor concept emerged as a strong first choice since its performance exceeds the anticipated operational requirements and the technology has been demonstrated and is retrievable. Although the NERVA derivative concepts were determined to be the lead candidates for the Multimegawatt Steady-State (MMWSS) mode as well, their lead over the other candidates is not as great as for the burst mode. 90 refs., 2 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5619371
• Report Number(s): SAND-87-0558; ON: DE89016962
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210300* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Graphite Moderated
210600 -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202 -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
BRAYTON CYCLE POWER SYSTEMS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PELLETS
FUELS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HEAVY WATER COOLED REACTORS
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
HYDROGEN COOLED REACTORS
HYDROGEN FUELS
IRRADIATION REACTORS
MASS
MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MOBILE REACTORS
MULTIWIRE PROPORTIONAL CHAMBERS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NERVA REACTOR
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NUCLEAR MODELS
PARTICLE-CORE COUPLING MODEL
PELLETS
PLUTO REACTOR
POWER REACTORS
POWER SYSTEMS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
PROPULSION REACTORS
PULSED REACTORS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RANKINE CYCLE POWER SYSTEMS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
SPACE WEAPONS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL REACTORS
THERMIONIC FUEL ELEMENTS