Use of nuclear energy for bimodal applications in space

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5555461

Horn, F L; Powell, J R; Ludewig, H

The versatile bimodal nuclear reactor is proposed for producing space station-keeping power of 100's kW and also capable of bursts of power by ramping to 100's MW for short times to operate high power magnetic systems. The particle bed reactor, using half-millimeter diameter fuel particles immersed in coolant, provides the heat transfer capability needed for this power level. The coolant is a gas when directly coupled to a Brayton Cycle and is particularly responsive. The reactor design uses 37 fuel elements in a triangular pattern held in a cylindrical core. The reactor, radiator and turbo-generator are packaged for insertion into the shuttle cargo bay.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5555461
• Report Number(s): BNL-38312; CONF-860810-19; ON: DE86014124
• Resource Relation: Conference: Intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, San Diego, CA, USA, 25 Aug 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
DESIGN
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
PEBBLE BED REACTORS
BRAYTON CYCLE
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEAT TRANSFER
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
REACTOR CORES
CONFIGURATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
GAS COOLED REACTORS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
POWER SUPPLIES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SOLID HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
210300 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Graphite Moderated