Effluent treatment options for nuclear thermal propulsion system ground tests

Abstract

A variety of approaches for handling effluent from nuclear thermal propulsion system ground tests in an environmentally acceptable manner are discussed. The functional requirements of effluent treatment are defined and concept options are presented within the framework of these requirements. System concepts diflfer primarily in the choice of fission-product retention and waste handUng concepts. TTie concept options considered range from closed cycle (venting the exhaust to a closed volume or recirculating the hydrogen in a closed loop) to open cycle (real time processing and venting of the effluent). This paper reviews the strengths and weaknesses of different methods to handle effluent from nuclear thermal propulsion system ground tests.

Test facilities for evaluating nuclear thermal propulsion systems

“…A simplified diagram of the coolant system conceptual design developed for the SNTP program can be found in Figure 3. Further details concerning the development of this system can be found in Allen, 1992, andBrockmann, 1993, including discussions of various trade study decisions that eliminated certain options introduced above.…”