Title :
Application of cermet fueled reactors to multimegawatt space power systems
Author :
Kruger, G.B. ; Lobach, J.
Author_Institution :
General Electric, Valley Forge, PA, USA
Abstract :
The open-cycle, multimegawatt burst power system is described in detail. The closed Brayton cycle, Rankine cycle and rocket propulsion applications are also discussed to illustrate the applicability of cermet fuel to a broad range of space power applications. The reactor, turbomachinery, superconducting generator, power conditioning, instrumentation and control, reliability, startup performance and safety are covered. It is shown that the cermet fuel fast spectrum reactor provides an attractive, flexible space power system
Keywords :
fission reactor theory and design; heat engines; space vehicle power plants; Rankine cycle; cermet fueled reactors; closed Brayton cycle; control; instrumentation; multimegawatt space power systems; open-cycle burst power systems; power conditioning; reliability; rocket propulsion; safety; startup performance; superconducting generator; turbomachinery; Ceramics; Fuels; Inductors; Instruments; Power conditioning; Power generation; Power system reliability; Propulsion; Rockets; Turbomachinery;
Conference_Titel :
Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1989. IECEC-89., Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
DOI :
10.1109/IECEC.1989.74609
