Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
This report describes a conceptual design for a multimegawatt lunar-based nuclear power system developed by students in the Space Systems Design course at the University of Washington. The design requirements are to produce 3 MWe for an operational lifetime of 10 years without human intervention. The system utilizes an inert-gas-cooled fuel-pin reactor as the heat source, a regenerative Brayton cycle as the power converter and a liquid droplet radiator as the thermal management system, and has a specific power of 66 W/kg. The unique requirements of a lunar base on shielding and siting of a nuclear reactor are discussed. The structural elements, though large, have a relatively small total mass and the liquid droplet radiator is highly adaptable to the moon due to the positive effects of lunar gravity on the droplet collection process.
Keywords:
SPACECRAFT PROPULSION AND POWER
Type:
AAS PAPER 86-308
,
Aerospace century XXI: Space flight technologies; Oct 26, 1986 - Oct 29, 1986; Boulder, CO; United States
Format:
text
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