Radial flow nuclear thermal rocket (RFNTR)
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 875172
- Patent Number(s):
- H001501
- Application Number:
- 07/970888
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1992 Nov 03
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 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; /376/
Citation Formats
Leyse, Carl F. Radial flow nuclear thermal rocket (RFNTR). United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Leyse, Carl F. Radial flow nuclear thermal rocket (RFNTR). United States.
Leyse, Carl F. Sun .
"Radial flow nuclear thermal rocket (RFNTR)". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/875172.
@article{osti_875172,
title = {Radial flow nuclear thermal rocket (RFNTR)},
author = {Leyse, Carl F.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}