SP-100 scaleup to 40 MWe

Newkirk, Douglas W.; Salamah, Samir A.; Stewart, Samuel L.; Pluta, P.R.

doi:10.1063/1.40067

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The SP-100 was never built, although several components were developed and tested for it. For application to the present mission requirement, the SP-100 design would be modified 6,7 . One upgraded design would use SP-100 fuel, but it would require increasing the power output by a factor of 150 to 15 MWe by increasing the reactor size.…”

Section: Sp-100mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi Megawatt Power System Analysis Report

Longhurst¹,

Harvego²,

Schnitzler³

et al. 2001

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Missions to the outer planets or to near-by planets requiring short times and/or increased payload carrying capability will benefit from nuclear power. A concept study was undertaken to evaluate options for a multi-megawatt power source for nuclear electric propulsion. The nominal electric power requirement was set at 15 MW e with an assumed mission profile of 120 days at full power, 60 days in hot standby, and another 120 days of full power, repeated several times for 7 years of service. Of the numerous options considered, two that appeared to have the greatest promise were a gas-cooled reactor based on the NERVA Derivative design, operating a closed cycle Brayton power conversion system; and a molten lithium-cooled reactor based on SP-100 technology, driving a boiling potassium Rankine power conversion system. This study examined the relative merits of these two systems, seeking to optimize the specific mass. Conclusions were that either concept appeared capable of approaching the specific mass goal of 3-5 kg/kW e estimated to be needed for this class of mission, though neither could be realized without substantial development in reactor fuels technology, thermal radiator mass efficiency, and power conversion and distribution electronics and systems capable of operating at high temperatures. Though the gas-Brayton systems showed an apparent advantage in specific mass, differences in the degree of conservatism inherent in the models used suggests expectations for the two approaches may be similar. Brayton systems eliminate the need to deal with two-phase flows in the microgravity environment of space.iii CONTENTS

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Section: Sp-100mentioning

confidence: 99%