Manned mars rover powered by a nuclear reactor; Radiation shield analysis

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Nuclear Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7178580

Morley, N J; El-Genk, M ^[1]

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1. New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering

This paper discusses a key element in the conceptual design of a nuclear reactor power system for a manned Mars rover is the analysis, design, and integration of the radiation shield. A shield analysis is carried out to characterize the thickness and spacing of shield layers to provide the minimum mass configuration that meets a dose rate requirement of 300 mSv/yr. The analysis utilizes a two-dimensional transport code to model the reactor and to provide a source term that is subsequently used to calculate dose rates as a function of reactor power level and shield layer thickness. Results show that a multilayered tungsten and lithium hydride (LiH) shield would satisfy the dose rate limit of 300 mSv/yr (30 rem/yr) to the rover crew. The position of two tungsten and LiH layers is varied to minimize secondary gamma-ray production and to optimize shield mass.

• OSTI ID: 7178580
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology; (United States), Vol. 99:2; ISSN 0029-5450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
LITHIUM HYDRIDES
SHIELDS
RADIATION PROTECTION
COMPUTER CODES
PLANNING
REACTOR SAFETY
SHIELDING
DESIGN
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
TUNGSTEN
DOSIMETRY
GAMMA RADIATION
OPTIMIZATION
RADIATION DOSES
SAFETY STANDARDS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
METALS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
PROPULSION REACTORS
RADIATIONS
REACTORS
SAFETY
SPACE POWER REACTORS
STANDARDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210600 - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
560190 - Radiation Protection Standards- (1992-)