SUSEE - ultra light nuclear space power using the steam cycle

Author

Powell, James ; Maise, George ; Paniagua, John

Author_Institution

Plus Ultra tehnologies, Inc., Shoreham, NY, USA

Volume

1

fYear

2003

fDate

March 8-15, 2003

Firstpage

1

Abstract

A near term, ultra lightweight nuclear space power system (SUSEE) using existing water cooled reactor/steam cycle technology is proposed. SUSEE uses an innovative new lightweight condensing radiator that can operate in zero g, with ∼1 m²/KW(e), 10 times smaller than other concepts. With standard 1000 F, 1000 psi superheated steam, 80% turbine efficiency and 2 atm condenser pressure, SUSEE has 24% thermal efficiency. SUSEE can deliver powers from a few kilowatts to multi-megawatts, with very small reactors (a 1 MW(e) reactor has 40 cm OD). SUSEE´s radiator is a flexible assembly of thin metal strips (Al or Be) with internally grooved channels for the steam/water condensate. It can be rolled into a compact launch package and unrolled in space.

Keywords

nuclear power; nuclear power stations; space power generation; steam power stations; Al; Be; SUSEE; compact launch package; condenser pressure; internally grooved channels; lightweight condensing radiator; steam cycle; steam-water condensate; superheated steam; thermal efficiency; thin metal strips; turbine efficiency; ultra light nuclear space power; water cooled reactor; Inductors; Mars; Power systems; Space cooling; Space heating; Space technology; Strips; Temperature; Thermoelectricity; Turbines;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference, 2003. Proceedings. 2003 IEEE

ISSN

1095-323X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7651-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.2003.1235078

Filename

1235078