NERVA technology reactor integrated with NASA Lewis Brayton cycle space power systems

Boman, L.H.; Gallagher, J.G.

doi:10.2514/6.1970-1226

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The first discussion of a nuclear-powered Brayton cycle was near the end of the Rover/NERVA program, when Boman and Gallagher discussed the application of NERVA reactor technology to a Brayton cycle power systems, by using NERVAderived fuel elements for the heat source of a CBC power system [72]. Since that time, there has been extensive interest in nuclear-powered Brayton cycle power systems, but no systems have actually gone into use.…”

Section: Other Recent Bntr Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated Propulsion and Power Modeling for Bimodal Nuclear Thermal Rockets

Clough¹,

Starkey²,

Lewis³

et al. 2007

43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference &Amp;amp; Exhibit

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Design point results show that a 316 MWt reactor produces a thrust and specific impulse of 66.6 kN and 917 s, respectively. The same reactor can be run at 73.8 kWt to produce the necessary 16.7 kW electric power with a Brayton cycle generator. This demonstrates the feasibility of BNTR operation with a NERVAderived reactor but also indicates that the reactor control system must be able to operate with precision across a wide power range, and that the transient analysis of reactor decay heat merits future investigation.Results also identify a significant reactor pressure-drop limitation during propulsion and power-generation operation that is caused by poor tie tube thermal conductivity. This leads to the conclusion that, while BNTR operation is possible with a NERVA-derived reactor, doing so requires careful consideration of the Brayton cycle design point and fuel element survivability.

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Section: Other Recent Bntr Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%