XNR2000---A near term nuclear thermal rocket concept

Conference · Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 1993 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43035· OSTI ID:5588071

Peery, S D; Parsley, R C ^[1]; Anghaie, S; Feller, G J ^[2]

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1. United Technologies, Pratt Whitney, West Palm Beach, Florida 33410-9600 (United States)
2. University of Florida, Dept. of Nuclear Sciences, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (United States)

A conceptual nuclear thermal rocket (NTR), the XNR2000, has been developed that is powered by a fast spectrum, cermet fueled reactor core. The baseline XNR2000 system delivers 25000 Ibf of thrust at a specific impulse of 900 seconds. The cermet fueled reactor heats hydrogen propellant to a maximum temperature of 2668K in a two-pass reactor flow configuration. Thermal hydraulic and neutronic analyses were performed to assess the basic design characteristics of the reactor core and engine system. Temperature, flow, and pressure distribution throughout the engine system at full power operating conditions were also determined. The two-pass reactor design and the utilization of cermet fuels allow for a compact and high power density 25000 Ibf thrust system with a thrust to weight ratio of larger than 5.3. This paper summarizes the XNR2000 conceptual design, the supporting thermal hydraulic and neutronic analyses, and the rational that lead to the baseline design.

• OSTI ID: 5588071
• Report Number(s): CONF-930103-; CODEN: APCPCS
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Vol. 271:3; Conference: 10. symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 10-14 Jan 1993; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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FAST REACTORS
FLUID FLOW
HYDROGEN
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REACTOR CORES
REACTOR PHYSICS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
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ELEMENTS
ENGINES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
MACHINERY
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REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
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