DTIC ADB262142: Large Payload Nuclear Rockets pdf

DTIC ADB262142: Large Payload Nuclear Rockets

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A nuclear rocket power plant system consisting of a solid core reactor, pressure shell, turbopump, and nozzle in which hydrogen is used as the propellant was investigated analytically over a wide range of conditions. The reactors considered were cylindrical graphite cores impregnated with U-235 reflected both radially and on the inlet end. Temperature and stress limitations were defined and Possible ranges of operating conditions within these limitations were determined. Complete rocket systems with Corresponding Payload weights were determined for a sample earth orbit mission. The range of parameters considered included: (1) Hydrogen temperatures at the reactor exit up to 4800 deg R (2) Hydrogen pressures at the reactor exit Up to 1000 psia (3) Reactor void fractions for hydrogen flow from 0.2 to 0.4 (4) Reactor power levels up to 30,000 megawatts. The major results of this study are: (1) A range of maximum possible reactor operating conditions limited by stresses and surface temperatures is determined.

This results in a plot of maximum possible propellant exit temperature vs. hydrogen flow through the reactor which is independent of the fluid pressure as long as the pressure never exceeds a specific value determined from the stress limitation

• Creator/s: Defense Technical Information Center
• Date: 6/1/1964
• Year: 1964
• Book Topics/Themes: DTIC Archive, Christie, John D, MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE, *NUCLEAR PROPULSION, THESES, NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, NUCLEAR REACTORS, ROCKET PROPULSION

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