Pin and Cermet hybrid bimodal reactor

Journal Article · Fri Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1995 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.47107· OSTI ID:90438

Weitzberg, A ^[1]; Warren, J W ^[2]

---

1. NUS Corporation, 912 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 (United States)
2. U. S. Department of Energy, NE-52, Washington, DC 20585 (United States)

Since the late 1950`s the U. S. has embarked on a number of space nuclear reactor power and propulsion programs. Some programs were to provide electrical power for spacecraft with a potential for nuclear electric propulsion. Other programs focused on thermal propulsion systems that may have also produced smaller amounts of auxiliary electric power. Recently the USAF Phillips Laboratory expressed interest in a bimodal reactor system that would, as its primary mission, provide both electric power and thermal propulsion. Because of requirements for both long-life (10 years) operation at lower temperatures as an electrical power source as well as short-term high temperature propulsion operation, no single previously developed fuel and reactor readily met the Air Force requirements. The Pin and Cermet Hybrid Bimodal Reactor concept described in this paper combines two previously developed fuel types into a single nuclear reactor that can meet the two disparate requirements. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-92NE32162
• OSTI ID: 90438
• Report Number(s): CONF-950110--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 324; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CERMETS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COOLANTS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POWER
FUEL PINS
HEAT TRANSFER
PROPULSION
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR PHYSICS
REACTORS
SHIELDING
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION