This work establishes and describes a new nuclear electric propulsion technology category for achieving a much lower system alpha in future space transport vehicles to significantly reduce transit time to Mars and other deep space science mission destinations. The new power conversion technology combines the Brayton cycle with a thermoacoustic Stirling cycle into a Closed Strayton Quad Generator that significantly increases the efficiency, specific power, and maximum turbine inlet temperature while insuring high reliability and long-life operation. A proposed design of this power conversion system is presented along with a performance and mass comparison to current state of practice.
Nuclear Electric Strayton Propulsion
Sae Technical Papers
Energy & Mobility Technology, Systems, and Value Chain Conference and Expo ; 2023
2023-09-05
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
NTIS | 1986
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|Nuclear electric propulsion missions
NTRS | 1984
|Nuclear-electric propulsion system
Engineering Index Backfile | 1956
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