Assessment of ceramic composites for multimegawatt space nuclear power systems
A calculational thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the compatibility of ceramic-ceramic composites and a nonequilibrium assessment based on the literature of their use in proposed multimegawatt space nuclear power systems was performed. The five candidate composites included Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-reinforced Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, SiC-whisker-toughened Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, SiC-whisker-toughened Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/, SiC-fiber-reinforced ZrC, and carbon-fiber-reinforced ZrC. The reactor concepts included Brayton cycle (continuous and burst mode) and Rankine cycle. It was determined that Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-reinforced Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and carbon-fiber-reinforced ZrC are compatible in the Brayton-cycle continuous-mode system and that Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-reinforced Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, SiC-fiber-reinforced ZrC, and carbon-fiber-reinforced ZrC are compatible in the Rankine-cycle system. None of the candidate ceramic composite systems was likely to be sufficiently stable under Brayton-cycle burst-mode conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6839642
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-10267; ON: DE87005272
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210600* -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BRAYTON CYCLE
CARBIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPATIBILITY
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTALS
ELEMENTS
EVALUATION
FIBERS
MATERIALS
MOBILE REACTORS
MONOCRYSTALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL PRESSURE
POWER REACTORS
RANKINE CYCLE
REACTORS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
THERMODYNAMICS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
WHISKERS
ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
210600* -- Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BRAYTON CYCLE
CARBIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPATIBILITY
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTALS
ELEMENTS
EVALUATION
FIBERS
MATERIALS
MOBILE REACTORS
MONOCRYSTALS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL PRESSURE
POWER REACTORS
RANKINE CYCLE
REACTORS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
THERMODYNAMICS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
WHISKERS
ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS