A low specific weight (20-40 Kg/kWe), long life (6-10 yr), 100-400 kWe nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) system can deliver 2000-10000 Kg payloads for intensive study of our solar system. The nuclear power source is about 80% of the NEP system mass, thus the NASA program is focused on developing the power source technology. Because of the long life requirements, direct thermal to electric energy conversion technology (thermionic and thermoelectric) is being pursued. In order to meet the low specific weight it is necessary to develop a converter with an 875 K minimum heat rejection temperature and a 1675 K maximum input temperature. The thermionic program is focused on improving the efficiency while the thermoelectric program is focused on increasing the material operating temperature capability.
Nuclear power source for electric propulsion
Kernenergiequelle fuer einen elektrischen Antrieb
1981
13 Seiten, 10 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 3 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Nuclear power source for electric propulsion
AIAA | 1979
|NTIS | 1986
|NTRS | 1986
|Space nuclear power applied to electric propulsion
NTRS | 1989
|