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Thermally Simulated 32kW Direct-Drive Gas-Cooled Reactor: Design, Assembly, and Test
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2004
Year
Closed Loop GasEngineeringReactor DesignReactor PhysicsNuclear Reactor DesignTest MatrixEngineering ThermodynamicsNuclear Systems SimulationDirect-drive Gas-cooled ReactorThermodynamicsNuclear Electric PropulsionNuclear Reactor OperationNuclear ReactorsPropulsionHeat TransferNuclear EngineeringNuclear PowerNuclear EnergyAerospace EngineeringNuclear Reactor EngineeringThermal HydraulicsNuclear SafetyReactor SafetyReactor ValidationThermal Engineering
One of the power systems under consideration for nuclear electric propulsion is a direct‐drive gas‐cooled reactor coupled to a Brayton cycle. In this system, power is transferred from the reactor to the Brayton system via a circulated closed loop gas. To allow early utilization, system designs must be relatively simple, easy to fabricate, and easy to test using non‐nuclear heaters to closely mimic heat from fission. This combination of attributes will allow pre‐prototypic systems to be designed, fabricated, and tested quickly and affordably. The ability to build and test units is key to the success of a nuclear program, especially if an early flight is desired. The ability to perform very realistic non‐nuclear testing increases the success probability of the system. In addition, the technologies required by a concept will substantially impact the cost, time, and resources required to develop a successful space reactor power system. This paper describes design features, assembly, and test matrix for the testing of a thermally simulated 32kW direct‐drive gas‐cooled reactor in the Early Flight Fission — Test Facility (EFF‐TF) at Marshall Space Flight Center. The reactor design and test matrix are provided by Los Alamos National Laboratories.