Nuclear power propulsion system

Electricity generated at nuclear power stations presently accoimts for some 8.4 EJ y or 2% of global energy use (USDoE, 2003). The technology used is primarily light water reactors, a commercial spin-off from the submarine nuclear-powered propulsion systems introduced in the 1950s. The situation after World War II was characterised by two factors of some importance for the development of nuclear energy and the specific reactor choice ... 

Nuclear power propulsion systems (NPPS) in contrast to onboard sources and NPPs discussed in o Sects. 59.2.1 and O 59.2.2, respectively, may perform both functions generate electric energy for the spacecraft s onboard needs and/or heat the propellant producing thrust (Pupko et al. 1991 Kolganov et al. 1993 Ponomarev-Stepnoi and Usov 1995 Ponomarev-Stepnoi et al. 1995, 1996, 2003, 2005). 

Nuclear power propulsion system (NPPS) 1, Recuperator 2, Fuel assembly 3, Control drum (CD) 4, Nuclear safety rod (NSR) 5, CD Drive 6, Radiator 7, Turbogenerator 8, NSR Drive 9, Hydrogen Tank 10, Turbo-pump 11, Hydrogen recuperator 12, Shielding 13, Reflector 14, Nozzle... 

The NPPs based on thermionic reactor converters may also become the basis for nuclear power propulsion systems. There are two possible development lines ... 

The nuclear-powered propulsion system developed for use aboard submarines allows these vessels to go without refueling for twenty years or... 

As previously stated, uranium carbides are used as nuclear fuel (145). Two of the typical reactors fueled by uranium and mixed metal carbides are thermionic, which are continually being developed for space power and propulsion systems, and high temperature gas-cooled reactors (83,146,147). In order to be used as nuclear fuel, carbide microspheres are required. These microspheres have been fabricated by a carbothermic reduction of UO and elemental carbon to form UC (148,149). In addition to these uses, the carbides are also precursors for uranium nitride based fuels. 

Atomic Propulsion Systems Engineering Airport Construction Electric Power Plant Construction Nuclear Power Plant Construction... 

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) manages approximately 1.9 billion cubic meters of radionuclide contaminated environmental media and 4.1 million cubic meters of stored, contaminated waste at 150 different sites located in 30 different states (i, 2). This environmental legacy is a result of the massive industrial complex responsible for defense related and non-defense related research, development and testing of nuclear weapons, nuclear propulsion systems and commercial nuclear power systems. Cleaning up the environmental legacy is expected to cost several hundred billion dollars over the next 5 to 7 decades. To reduce costs and speed remediation efforts the DOE has invested in waste treatment and environmental remediation research. 

THE USE OF ENGINEERING FEATURES AND SCHEMATIC SOLUTIONS OF PROPULSION NUCLEAR STEAM SUPPLY SYSTEMS FOR FLOATING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DESIGN... 

Successful resolution of such a problem requires a comprehensive systems approach diat considers all aspects of manufacturing, transportation, operation, and ultimate disposal. Some elements of this approach have been used previously in the development of propulsion (ship and space) nuclear power systems, with consideration given to many diverse requirements such as highly autonomous operation for a long period of time, no planned maint ance, no on-site refuelling and ultimate disposition. 

This order applies to all varieties of reactors including, but not limited to light water moderated reactors, heavy water moderated reactors, liquid metal cooled reactors, gas cooled reactors and short-pulse transient reactors. Space reactor power and propulsion systems and critical facilities require special design criteria. Attachment 4 is reserved for Nuclear Safety Design for critical facilities and space reactors. 

They may be developed on the basis of both the NPP and the onboard nuclear power system technologies. The NPPS reactor is operated in two modes either continuous power or short propulsion. Power levels at those modes differ by 3-4 orders of magnitude. 

Andreev PV, Galkin AYa, Zhabotinsky EE et al (1995) Electrical propulsion units based on Topaz-type thermionic nuclear power systems for information satellite systems. In Proceedings of the 12th Symposium on space nuclear power systems, Pt. 1, Albuquerque NM, pp 335—339... 

Ponomarev-Stepnoi NN, Usov VA et al (1995) Conceptual design of the bimodal nuclear power and propulsion system based on the Topaz-2 reactor with the modernized single-Cell TFE. In 12th Symposium on space nuclear power systems, USA, Albuquerque, 1995... 

Ponomarev-Stepnoi NN, Usov VA et al (1996) Bimodal space nuclear power system with fast reactor and Topaz-2 type single cell TFE. In 13th symposium on nuclear power and propulsion, Pt. 3, 1077-1081 Ponomarev-Stepnoy NN, Talyzin VM et al (1999) Raboty po sozdaniyu otechestvennogo yard. Atomnaya energiya, 86(4) 296... 

Pupko VYa, Vizgalov AVet al (1991) Fast neutron thermionic-converters for high-power space nuclear systems. In 8th symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion, Pt. 3, pp 657-661... 

Bruno, Claudio, ed. Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Systems. Reston, Va. American Instimte of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008. Essays examine the use of nuclear power on spacecraft. One chapter specifically examines ion thrusters and nuclear power. Doody, Dave. Deep Space Craft An Overview of Interplanetary Flight. New York Springer, 2009. Contains a chapter on propulsion and discusses ion propulsion in the greater context of spacecraft. 

The field of propulsion deals with the means by which aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft are propelled toward their destinations. Subjects of development include propellers and rotors driven by internal combustion engines or jet engines, rockets powered by solid- or liquid-fueled engines, spacecraft powered by ion engines, solar sails or nuclear reactors, and matter-antimatter engines. Propulsion system metrics include thrust, power, cycle efficiency, propulsion efficiency, specific impulse, and thrust-specific fuel consumption. Advances in this field have enabled hiunanity to travel across the world in a few hours, visit space and the Moon, and send probes to distant planets. 

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