The purpose of this paper is to address the applicability of a common reactor system design from the Pratt & Whitney ESCORT nuclear thermal rocket engine concept to support current NASA mars surface-based power requirements. The ESCORT is a bimodal engine capable of supporting a wide range of propulsive thermal and vehicle electrical power requirements. The ESCORT engine is powered by a fast-spectrum beryllium-reflected CERMET-fueled nuclear reactor. In addition to an expander cycle propulsive mode, the ESCORT is capable of operating in an electrical power mode. In this mode, the reactor is used to heat a mixture of helium and xenon to drive a closed-loop Brayton cycle in order to generate electrical energy. Recent Design Reference Mission requirements (DRM) from NASA Johnson Space Center and NASA Lewis Research Center studies in 1997 and 1998 have detailed upgraded requirements for potential mars transfer missions. The current NASA DRM requires a nuclear thermal propulsion system capable of delivering total mission requirements of 200170 N (45000 lbf) thrust and 50 kWe of spacecraft electrical power. Additionally, these requirements detailed a surface power system capable of providing approximately 160 kW of electrical energy over an approximate 10 year period within a given weight and volume envelope. Current NASA studies use a SP-100 reactor (0.8 MT) and a NERVA derivative (1.6 MT) as baseline systems. A mobile power cart of approximate dimensions 1.7 m×4.5 m×4.4 m has been conceptualized to transport the reactor power system on the Mars Surface. The 63.25 cm diameter and 80.25 cm height of the ESCORT and its 1.3 MT of weight fit well within the current weight and volume target range of the NASA DRM requirements. The modifications required to the ESCORT reactor system to support this upgraded electrical power requirements along with operation in the Martian atmospheric conditions are addressed in this paper. Sufficient excess reactivity and burnup capability were designed into the ESCORT reactor system to support these upgraded requirements. Only slight modifications to reactor hardware were required to address any environmental considerations. These modifications involved sealing any refractory metal alloy components from the CO 2 in the Martian Atmosphere. Also, the Brayton cycle Power Conversion Unit (PCU) hardware was modified to support the upgraded requirements. This paper discusses the design analysis performed and provides information on the final common reactor concept to be used on the Mars surface to support manned missions.


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    Titel :

    Pratt & Whitney ESCORT derivative for mars surface power


    Beteiligte:
    Feller, Gerald J. (Autor:in) / Joyner, Russell (Autor:in) / Bragg, Mary J. (Herausgeber:in) / El-Genk, Mohamed S. (Herausgeber:in)

    Kongress:

    Space technology and applications international forum -1999 ; 1999 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Erschienen in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 458 , 1 ; 1205-1210


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    22.01.1999


    Format / Umfang :

    6 pages





    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch



    Pratt & Whitney ESCORT Derivative for Mars Surface Power

    Feller, G. J. / Joyner, R. / University of New Mexico; School of Engineering; Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    Manned Mars Mission Enhancements Using Pratt & Whitney ESCORT Combined Propulsion and Power System

    Joyner, R. / Feller, G. J. / University of New Mexico; School of Engineering; Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    Manned mars mission enhancements using Pratt & Whitney escort combined propulsion and power system

    Joyner, Russell / Feller, Gerald J. | American Institute of Physics | 1999


    ESCORT: A Pratt & Whitney Nuclear Thermal Propulsion and Power System for Manned Mars Missions

    Feller, G. J. / Joyner, R. / University of New Mexico; School of Engineering; Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    ESCORT: A Pratt & Whitney nuclear thermal propulsion and power system for manned mars missions

    Feller, Gerald J. / Joyner, Russell | American Institute of Physics | 1999