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Heater Development, Fabrication, and Testing: Analysis of Fabricated HeatersThermal simulators (highly designed heater elements) developed at the Early Flight Fission Test Facility (EFF-TF) are used to simulate the heat from nuclear fission in a variety of reactor concepts. When inserted into the reactor geometry, the purpose of the thermal simulators is to deliver thermal power to the test article in the same fashion as if nuclear fuel were present. Considerable effort has been expended to mimic heat from fission as closely as possible. To accurately represent the fuel, the simulators should be capable of matching the overall properties of the nuclear fuel rather than simply matching the fuel temperatures. This includes matching thermal stresses in the pin, pin conductivities, total core power, and core power profile (axial and radial). This Technical Memorandum discusses the historical development of the thermal simulators used in nonnuclear testing at the EFF-TF and provides a basis for the development of the current series of thermal simulators. The status of current heater fabrication and testing is assessed, providing data and analyses for both successes and failures experienced in the heater development and testing program.
Document ID
20110008065
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Bragg-Sitton, S. M. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Dickens, R. E. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Farmer, J. T. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Davis, J. D. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Adams, M. R. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Martin, J. J. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Webster, K. L. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2008
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
M-1235
NASA/TM-2008-215466
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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