Gas cooling of power-dense nuclear reactor cores can produce large thermal and stress gradients t... more Gas cooling of power-dense nuclear reactor cores can produce large thermal and stress gradients through sensible temperature changes in the coolant. In-core heat pipes remove heat isothermally and reduce the severity of these gradients. The modular SAFE reactor concept consists of numerous heat pipes that permit core re-assembly during test and preflight integration. The redundancy inherent in the modular heat pipe-based design enhances reactor reliability. The SAFE reactor is designed to operate for extended periods near full power even if several fuel pins or modules fail. Los Alamos National Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center are jointly developing two modular heat pipe heat exchangers, collectively named FIGMENT (Fission Inert Gas Metal Exchanger for Non-nuclear Testing). The FIGMENT heat exchangers are designed to transfer power from the SAFE nuclear reactor cores to gas turbine energy converters. A stainless steel prototype heat exchanger will be built in preparation for the construction of a larger refractory metal version. Several promising FIGMENT stainless steel heat exchanger concepts are reviewed here. (authors)
The use of resistance heaters to simulate heat from fission allows extensive development of fissi... more The use of resistance heaters to simulate heat from fission allows extensive development of fission systems to be performed in non-nuclear test facilities, saving time and money. Resistance heated tests on the Safe Affordable Fission Engine-30 kilowatt (SAFE30) test article are being performed at the Marshall Space Flight Center. This paper discusses the results of these experiments to date, and
The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power system. T... more The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power system. The Heatpipe Bimodal System (HBS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power and/or propulsion system. Both systems will be composed of independent modules, and all components use existing technology and operate within the existing database. The HPS and HBS have relatively few system integration issues;
The Thermionic Fuel Element Verification Program (TFEVP) was created to demonstrate the technolog... more The Thermionic Fuel Element Verification Program (TFEVP) was created to demonstrate the technological readiness of a Thermionic Fuel Element (TFE) suitable for use as the basic element in a thermionic reactor having an electric power output in the 0.5- to 5-MWe range and a full-power life of seven years. The TFEVP has made significant progress in developing components capable of withstanding the required neutron fluence (4 Ă— 1022 n/cm2, E > 0.1 MeV) and the required burnup (5.3%). Technology developed under the TFEVP also supports the 5- to 40- kWe thermionic systems currently of interest to the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization and the United States Air Force. The fast-neutron flux in certain 5- to 40-kWe systems is nearly an order of magnitude less than that in 0.5- to 5-MWe systems. Component technology that has been developed for 0.5- to 5-MWe systems will thus be suitable for use in long-life, high-performance, 5- to 40-kWe systems. Components that are being developed by the TFEVP include insulator seals, sheath insulators, fueled emitters, cesium reservoirs, and interconnective TFE components. In addition, the TFEVP has created a preliminary 2-MWe-system design and has evaluated converter performance under various conditions. Six integrated TFEs have also been tested. The TFEVP has encountered and surmounted problems in developing and testing long-life TFEs. The emphasis of the US thermionic reactor development effort has shifted to the development of a 40-kWe thermionic space nuclear power supply. The TFEVP will be closed out by the end of fiscal year 1994, with the closeout optimized for yielding the maximum overall program benefit-to-cost ratio. Information gained during the closeout will be very useful to the development of 40-kWe and other thermionic systems.
In recent years, numerous studies have been performed on the use of a nuclear power source for an... more In recent years, numerous studies have been performed on the use of a nuclear power source for an early lunar base. These studies have shown that not only is using nuclear power feasible, but that it is also the best option for a reliable, long-lived, compact power source. ...
... Laurie L. Hixson, ISR-CSSE Michael G. Houts, D-5 Steven D. Clement, N-2 Proceedings of ICAPP ... more ... Laurie L. Hixson, ISR-CSSE Michael G. Houts, D-5 Steven D. Clement, N-2 Proceedings of ICAPP '04 Pittsburgh, PA USA June 13 - 17,2004 A ... Laurie L. Hixson, Michael G. Houts, and Steven D. Clement Los Alamos National Laboratory Mail Stop D466, Los Alamos. ...
Gas cooling of power-dense nuclear reactor cores can produce large thermal and stress gradients t... more Gas cooling of power-dense nuclear reactor cores can produce large thermal and stress gradients through sensible temperature changes in the coolant. In-core heat pipes remove heat isothermally and reduce the severity of these gradients. The modular SAFE reactor concept consists of numerous heat pipes that permit core re-assembly during test and preflight integration. The redundancy inherent in the modular heat pipe-based design enhances reactor reliability. The SAFE reactor is designed to operate for extended periods near full power even if several fuel pins or modules fail. Los Alamos National Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center are jointly developing two modular heat pipe heat exchangers, collectively named FIGMENT (Fission Inert Gas Metal Exchanger for Non-nuclear Testing). The FIGMENT heat exchangers are designed to transfer power from the SAFE nuclear reactor cores to gas turbine energy converters. A stainless steel prototype heat exchanger will be built in preparation for the construction of a larger refractory metal version. Several promising FIGMENT stainless steel heat exchanger concepts are reviewed here. (authors)
The use of resistance heaters to simulate heat from fission allows extensive development of fissi... more The use of resistance heaters to simulate heat from fission allows extensive development of fission systems to be performed in non-nuclear test facilities, saving time and money. Resistance heated tests on the Safe Affordable Fission Engine-30 kilowatt (SAFE30) test article are being performed at the Marshall Space Flight Center. This paper discusses the results of these experiments to date, and
The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power system. T... more The Heatpipe Power System (HPS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power system. The Heatpipe Bimodal System (HBS) is a potential, near-term, low-cost space fission power and/or propulsion system. Both systems will be composed of independent modules, and all components use existing technology and operate within the existing database. The HPS and HBS have relatively few system integration issues;
The Thermionic Fuel Element Verification Program (TFEVP) was created to demonstrate the technolog... more The Thermionic Fuel Element Verification Program (TFEVP) was created to demonstrate the technological readiness of a Thermionic Fuel Element (TFE) suitable for use as the basic element in a thermionic reactor having an electric power output in the 0.5- to 5-MWe range and a full-power life of seven years. The TFEVP has made significant progress in developing components capable of withstanding the required neutron fluence (4 Ă— 1022 n/cm2, E > 0.1 MeV) and the required burnup (5.3%). Technology developed under the TFEVP also supports the 5- to 40- kWe thermionic systems currently of interest to the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization and the United States Air Force. The fast-neutron flux in certain 5- to 40-kWe systems is nearly an order of magnitude less than that in 0.5- to 5-MWe systems. Component technology that has been developed for 0.5- to 5-MWe systems will thus be suitable for use in long-life, high-performance, 5- to 40-kWe systems. Components that are being developed by the TFEVP include insulator seals, sheath insulators, fueled emitters, cesium reservoirs, and interconnective TFE components. In addition, the TFEVP has created a preliminary 2-MWe-system design and has evaluated converter performance under various conditions. Six integrated TFEs have also been tested. The TFEVP has encountered and surmounted problems in developing and testing long-life TFEs. The emphasis of the US thermionic reactor development effort has shifted to the development of a 40-kWe thermionic space nuclear power supply. The TFEVP will be closed out by the end of fiscal year 1994, with the closeout optimized for yielding the maximum overall program benefit-to-cost ratio. Information gained during the closeout will be very useful to the development of 40-kWe and other thermionic systems.
In recent years, numerous studies have been performed on the use of a nuclear power source for an... more In recent years, numerous studies have been performed on the use of a nuclear power source for an early lunar base. These studies have shown that not only is using nuclear power feasible, but that it is also the best option for a reliable, long-lived, compact power source. ...
... Laurie L. Hixson, ISR-CSSE Michael G. Houts, D-5 Steven D. Clement, N-2 Proceedings of ICAPP ... more ... Laurie L. Hixson, ISR-CSSE Michael G. Houts, D-5 Steven D. Clement, N-2 Proceedings of ICAPP '04 Pittsburgh, PA USA June 13 - 17,2004 A ... Laurie L. Hixson, Michael G. Houts, and Steven D. Clement Los Alamos National Laboratory Mail Stop D466, Los Alamos. ...
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