Closed Brayton cycle power system with a high temperature pellet bed reactor heat source for NEP applications

Abstract

Capitalizing on past and future development of high temperature gas reactor (HTGR) technology, a low mass 15 MWe closed gas turbine cycle power system using a pellet bed reactor heating helium working fluid is proposed for Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) applications. Although the design of this directly coupled system architecture, comprising the reactor/power system/space radiator subsystems, is presented in conceptual form, sufficient detail is included to permit an assessment of overall system performance and mass. Furthermore, an attempt is made to show how tailoring of the main subsystem design characteristics can be utilized to achieve synergistic system level advantages that can lead to improved reliability and enhanced system life while reducing the number of parasitic load driven peripheral subsytems.

Development of Lightweight Radiators for Lunar Based Power Systems

“…Figure 5 shows how this strategy might be applied to a second generation CBC power system, using flat C-C radiators. To assure high overall power system reliability several parallel redundant power conversion units (PCUs) could be used with a single high temperature gas reactor heat source, as proposed for nuclear electric propulsion [14] systems. Figure 6 shows such a conceptual power plant using eight parallel redundant Brayton PCU' s, each with its own radiator panel.…”

Study on Alternative Cargo Launch Options from the Lunar Surface

“…The Heat-Pipe Power System (HPS) [6] and SUSEE [7] meanwhile have relatively higher specific mass, which results in higher system mass for the given power requirement. The two most promising reactor systems are the High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) [8] and the Low specific Mass Reactor (LMR) [9].…”

Multi Megawatt Gas Turbine Power Systems for Lunar Colonies

“…For this study, a CCGT lunar power plant, also referred to as a CBC (Closed Brayton Cycle) power system, was conceptually designed. The system configuration comprised a single high temperature gas reactor heat source typified by the pellet reactor proposed by Juhasz, El-Genk and Harper (1992). This reactor heats the He working fluid supplied to two 5 MWe CBC units, each with their in-line flat plate radiator mounted vertically.…”

“…The HTGR heat source could be of the "pellet bed" design as described by Juhasz et al (1992). The energy conversion system utilizes multi-stage axial compressor and turbine technology adapted from aircraft engine or stationary power generating applications, but modified for pure helium (He) working fluid.…”