Statistics – Applications
Scientific paper
Jan 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002aipc..608.1043l&link_type=abstract
SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL FORUM- STAIF 2002. Conference on Thermophyiscs in Microgravity; Conference on In
Statistics
Applications
Power And Production Reactors, Spaceborne And Space Research Instruments, Apparatus, And Components
Scientific paper
A Mars surface power system configuration with an output power of 3 kWe and a system mass of 775 kg is described. It consists of a heatpipe-cooled reactor with UN fuel coupled to a Stirling engine with a fixed conical radiator driven by loop heat pipes. Key to achieving this low mass is the use of a highly radiation-resistant multiplexer for monitoring and controlling the reactor, as well as radiation resistant generators and motors. Also key is the judicious placement of shields to prevent radiation scattered from the Martian surface and air from damaging the reactor controls. Several alternate configurations also are briefly looked at, including a moderated reactor with UZrH fuel and a reactor using 233U instead of 235U. The moderated reactor system has essentially the same mass as the baseline unmoderated UN system and yields the same radiation shielding requirements. The 233U reactor is significantly smaller and yields a system mass about 228 kg lighter than with 235U, but part of this weight reduction is due to the use of removable neutron absorbers to assure subcriticality with water immersion, as opposed to permanently placed absorbers. .
Elson Jay
Guffee Ray
Kapernick Richard
Lee James
Lenard Roger X.
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