Conference proceeding
Thermal Challenges in High Performance Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Systems
AIAA SCITECH 2024 FORUM
01 Jan 2024
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR) is a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) engine concept that provides a twofold benefit to specific impulse through the use of liquid uranium fuel. Firstly, a bubble-through reactor design is used, where the propellant is injected into and directly heated by a liquid uranium annulus retained using centrifugal force. Secondly, using liquid uranium as a fuel, i.e., designing the engine to operate at temperatures above the melting point of liquid uranium, increases the upper limit of the propellant exhaust temperature. These two factors contribute to a specific impulse of up to 1800 seconds. At its upper limit, the CNTR could enable near-term human exploration of Mars, with a round-trip time of 420 days. However, such benefits do not come without significant effort. The CNTR is a complex system that requires a detailed understanding of many physical phenomena. This paper will discuss computational and experimental research being conducted to address some of the challenges associated with the CNTR, and will also note potential mission benefits from the CNTR. The paper will focus on potential thermal challenges, including thermal "soak back" into the rotating cylinder wall, liquid fuel vaporization, and the overall engine thermal balance.
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Details
- Title
- Thermal Challenges in High Performance Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Systems
- Creators
- Joel T. Krakower - Drexel UniversityMichael G. Houts - Marshall Space Flight CenterDakota Santana - University of AlabamaAIAA
- Publication Details
- AIAA SCITECH 2024 FORUM
- Publisher
- Amer Inst Aeronautics & Astronautics
- Number of pages
- 16
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001375951404019
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85194157879
- Other Identifier
- 991022202501804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Aerospace
- Engineering, Mechanical
- Mechanics