A human outpost on Mars requires plentiful power to assure survival of the astronauts. Anywhere from 50 to 500 kW of electric power (kWe) will be needed, depending on the number of astronauts, level of scientific activity, and life-cycle closure desired. This paper describes a 250-kWe power system based on a gas-cooled nuclear reactor with a recuperated closed Brayton cycle conversion system. The design draws upon the extensive data and engineering experience developed under the various high-temperature gas cooled reactor programs and under the SP-100 program. The reactor core is similar in power and size to the research reactors found on numerous university campuses. The fuel is uranium nitride clad in Nb1%Zr, which has been extensively tested under the SP-100 program. The fuel rods are arranged in a hexagonal array within a BeO block. The BeO softens the spectrum, allowing better use of the fuel and stabilizing the geometry against deformation during impact or other loadings. The system has a negative temperature feedback coefficient so that the power level will automatically follow a variable load without the need for continuous adjustment of control elements. Waste heat is removed by an air-cooled heat exchanger using cold Martian air. The amount of radioactivity in the reactor at launch is very small (less than a Curie, and about equal to a truckload of uranium ore). The system will need to be engineered so that criticality can not occur for any launch accident. This system is also adaptable for electric propulsion or life-support during transit to and from Mars.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A gas-cooled reactor surface power system



    Conference:

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


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 458 , 1 ; 1470-1475


    Publication date :

    1999-01-22


    Size :

    6 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    A Gas-Cooled Reactor Surface Power System

    Lipinski, R. J. / Wright, S. A. / Lenard, R. X. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    Solid-Core, Gas-Cooled Reactor for Space and Surface Power

    King, J. C. / El-Genk, M. S. / American Institute of Physics | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    Solid‐Core, Gas‐Cooled Reactor for Space and Surface Power

    King, Jeffrey C. / El‐Genk, Mohamed S. | American Institute of Physics | 2006


    Design of a Low Power, Fast‐Spectrum, Liquid‐Metal Cooled Surface Reactor System

    Marcille, T. F. / Dixon, D. D. / Fischer, G. A. et al. | American Institute of Physics | 2006


    Design of a Low Power, Fast-Spectrum, Liquid-Metal Cooled Surface Reactor System

    Marcille, T. F. / Dixon, D. D. / Fischer, G. A. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006