Radial flow nuclear thermal rocket (RFNTR)

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:875172

Leyse, Carl F. ^[1]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID

A radial flow nuclear thermal rocket fuel assembly includes a substantially conical fuel element having an inlet side and an outlet side. An annular channel is disposed in the element for receiving a nuclear propellant, and a second, conical, channel is disposed in the element for discharging the propellant. The first channel is located radially outward from the second channel, and separated from the second channel by an annular fuel bed volume. This fuel bed volume can include a packed bed of loose fuel beads confined by a cold porous inlet frit and a hot porous exit frit. The loose fuel beads include ZrC coated ZrC-UC beads. In this manner, nuclear propellant enters the fuel assembly axially into the first channel at the inlet side of the element, flows axially across the fuel bed volume, and is discharged from the assembly by flowing radially outward from the second channel at the outlet side of the element.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): H001501
• Application Number: 07/970888
• OSTI ID: 875172
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1992 Nov 03
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

radial
flow
nuclear
thermal
rocket
rfntr
fuel
assembly
substantially
conical
element
inlet
outlet
annular
channel
disposed
receiving
propellant
discharging
located
radially
outward
separated
bed
volume
packed
loose
beads
confined
cold
frit
hot
porous
manner
enters
axially
flows
discharged
flowing
packed bed
fuel element
fuel assembly
radially outward
radial flow
annular fuel
located radially
assembly axially
nuclear thermal
thermal rocket
flow nuclear
rocket fuel
annular channel
statutory invention registration
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