Electric fission reactor for space applications

Title: Electric fission reactor for space applications

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Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a power system utilizing a uranium-based reactor for space missions. For example, the power system may include a reactor configured to generate thermal energy using a uranium core. A plurality of heat pipes may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the reactor core to a plurality of Stirling engines to generate electricity for a spacecraft.

Inventors:: McClure, Patrick Ray; Dixon, David Duff; Poston, David Irvin; Mason, Lee; Gibson, Marc

Issue Date:: 2019-04-30

Research Org.:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1568278

Patent Number(s):: 10276271

Application Number:: 14/770,894

Assignee:: Triad National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C15/04 - from fissile or breeder material {
G21C3/08 - provided with external means to promote heat-transfer, e.g. fins, baffles
G21C3/22 - with fissile or breeder material in contact with coolant
G21C11/06 - Reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E30/30 - Nuclear fission reactors

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
G21D5/02 - Reactor and engine structurally combined, e.g. portable

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
G21H3/00 - Arrangements for direct conversion of radiation energy from radioactive sources into forms of energy other than electric energy, e.g. {into} light {or mechanic energy}

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C7/08 - by displacement of solid control elements, e.g. control rods
G21C1/32 - Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core
G21C15/257 - using heat-pipes {
G21C1/02 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator {
G21C3/04 - Constructional details

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E30/00 - Energy generation of nuclear origin

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C3/40 - Structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element for direct production of electric energy from fission heat

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
G21H1/00 - Arrangements for obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources, e.g. from radioactive isotopes {, nuclear or atomic batteries}

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DOE Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 03/26/2014

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS

Citation Formats


                    McClure, Patrick Ray, Dixon, David Duff, Poston, David Irvin, Mason, Lee, and Gibson, Marc. Electric fission reactor for space applications.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
        Web.

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                    McClure, Patrick Ray, Dixon, David Duff, Poston, David Irvin, Mason, Lee, & Gibson, Marc. Electric fission reactor for space applications.  United States.

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                    McClure, Patrick Ray, Dixon, David Duff, Poston, David Irvin, Mason, Lee, and Gibson, Marc. Tue .  
        "Electric fission reactor for space applications".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1568278.

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@article{osti_1568278,

  title        = {Electric fission reactor for space applications},

  author       = {McClure, Patrick Ray and Dixon, David Duff and Poston, David Irvin and Mason, Lee and Gibson, Marc},

  abstractNote = {Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a power system utilizing a uranium-based reactor for space missions. For example, the power system may include a reactor configured to generate thermal energy using a uranium core. A plurality of heat pipes may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the reactor core to a plurality of Stirling engines to generate electricity for a spacecraft.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2019},

  month        = {4}

}

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