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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Shielding requirements for particle-bed propulsion systems. Special report, May 90-Mar 91

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6366621
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion systems present unique challenges in reliability and safety. Due to the radiation incident upon all components of the propulsion system, shielding must be used to keep nuclear heating in the materials within limits; in addition, electronic control systems must be protected. This report analyzes the nuclear heating due to the radiation and the shielding required to meet the established criteria while also minimizing the shield mass. Heating rates were determined in a 2000 MWt Particle Bed Reactor (PBR) system for all materials in the interstage region, between the reactor vessel and the propellant tank, with special emphasis on meeting the silicon dose criteria. Using a Lithium Hydride/Tungsten shield, the optimum shield design was found to be: 50 cm LiH/2 cm W on the axial reflector in the reactor vessel and 50 cm LiH/2 cm W in a collar extension of the inside shield outside of the pressure vessel. Within these parameters, the radiation doses in all of the components in the interstage and lower tank regions would be within acceptable limits for mission requirements.
Research Organization:
Phillips Lab., Edwards AFB, CA (United States)
OSTI ID:
6366621
Report Number(s):
AD-A-240780/7/XAB; PL-TR--91-3018
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English