Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) Cold Critical Measurements

Grove, Travis; Hayes, D.; Goda, Joetta; McKenzie, George; Hutchinson, Jesson D.; Cutler, Theresa; Bounds, J.A.; Walker, Jessie; Myers, William; Sanchez, Rene

doi:10.1080/00295450.2020.1712950

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…With the core, heat pipes, and Stirling engine/simulator assembly integrated, the same process of iterative Table II, which is a reprint from work performed by Grove et al 14 The final assembly of the Stirling engine converters is shown in Fig. 9.…”

Section: Iie2 Cold Criticalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kilopower Project: The KRUSTY Fission Power Experiment and Potential Missions

et al. 2020

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The Kilopower Project was initiated by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate/ Game Changing Development Program in fiscal year 2015 to demonstrate subsystem-level technology readiness of small space fission power in a relevant environment (Technology Readiness Level 5) for space science and human exploration power needs. The Kilopower Project centerpiece is the Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) test, which consists of the development and testing of a ground technology demonstrator of a 1-kW(electric)-class fission power system (FPS). The technologies to be developed and validated by KRUSTY are extensible to space FPSs from 1 to 10 kW(electric), which can enable modular surface FPSs for human exploration as well as higherpower future potential deep space science missions. The KRUSTY demonstration is cofunded by NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration. The KRUSTY demonstration in the National Critical Experiment Research Center's Device Assembly Facility was completed in the first quarter of 2018.

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Section: Iie2 Cold Criticalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kilopower Project: The KRUSTY Fission Power Experiment and Potential Missions

et al. 2020

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“…In year two, electrically heated testing was performed on various components and system mock-ups. In year three, a full electrical test was followed by cold (zero-power) criticality testing 6 and then warm (nuclear-powered) criticals. 7 The primary purpose of all of this testing was to prepare for the final nuclear system test.…”

Section: Objectives and Test Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For a flight system where reactivity will be controlled by the inner B 4 C rod, there would be less of a need for very fine motion control. Zero-power criticals determined the control rod worth to be~4 ¢/mm near the expected critical position 6 ; thus, reactivity would be three times less sensitive to control movements; i.e., a 1.5-mm rod move would cause a 30°C temperature change as opposed to a 0.5-mm platen move.…”

Section: Ixc Platen Raised By 15 MMmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accompanying papers in this special issue provide additional detail about the reactor design, 2 power conversion system 3 (PCS), regulatory approvals, 4 and KRUSTY testing prior to the full nuclear system test. [5][6][7] These references include numerous design drawings and hardware photographs. A few photographs are included in this paper to provide the basics of the KRUSTY design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Results of the KRUSTY Nuclear System Test

et al. 2020

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The Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) was a prototypic nuclear-powered test of a 5-kW(thermal) Kilopower space reactor. This paper presents results from the KRUSTY nuclear system test, which operated the power system at various temperatures and power levels for 28 consecutive hours. The testing showed that the system operated as expected and that the reactor is highly tolerant of possible failure conditions and transients. The key feature demonstrated was the ability of the reactor to load-follow the demand of the power conversion system. The thermal power of the test ranged from 1.5 to 5.0 kW(thermal), with a fuel temperature up to 880°C. Each 80-W(electric)-rated Stirling converter produced~90 W(electric) at a component efficiency of~35% and an overall system efficiency of~25%.

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“…This paper focuses on the reactor design, including the goals and approach that facilitated project success. Accompanying papers in this special issue provide additional detail about the power conversion system 3 (PCS); regulatory approvals 4 ; and test results from the cold criticals, 5,6 warm criticals, 7 and full nuclear system test. 8 Figure 1 shows the basic layout of a Kilopower system.…”

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confidence: 99%

KRUSTY Reactor Design

et al. 2020

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The Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) was a reactor design, development, and test program to demonstrate the nuclear operation of a Kilopower reactor. Kilopower systems are intended to provide between 1 and 10 kW(electric) in space, or on the surface of planets or moons, with a clear evolution to substantially higher power systems. KRUSTY was a prototype of a 1-kW(electric) highly enriched uranium-fueled Kilopower system. In March of 2018, KRUSTY successfully operated as a fission power system and was the first nuclear-powered operation of any truly new reactor concept in the United States in over 40 years. This paper discusses the design of the KRUSTY reactor along with the philosophy, goals, and engineering work that ultimately led to KRUSTY's success.

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Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY (KRUSTY) Cold Critical Measurements

Cited by 21 publications

References 2 publications

Kilopower Project: The KRUSTY Fission Power Experiment and Potential Missions

Kilopower Project: The KRUSTY Fission Power Experiment and Potential Missions

Results of the KRUSTY Nuclear System Test

KRUSTY Reactor Design

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