Some temperature effects on the steady-state core performance of nuclear engines for space propulsion

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:5884657

Aithal, S M; Aldemir, T; Vafai, K ^[1]

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1. Ohio State Unvi., Columbus (United States)

There has been renewed interest in the use of nuclear power for space propulsion, and it is expected that nuclear thermal propulsion using solid cores will be the option for near-term applications by the 2020s. In thermal propulsion, the reactor coolant also serves as propellant (i.e., hydrogen). In terms of the fuel utilized, the reactor types under consideration are (a) NERVA and prismatic cermet concepts (b) reactors using particle fuel, and (c) reactors using refractory fuel. The first two groups of reactors are thermal reactors, and the third group is fast reactor.

• OSTI ID: 5884657
• Report Number(s): CONF-930601--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 68
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210600* -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DESIGN
MOBILE REACTORS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
SIMULATION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE