Heat Rejection Concepts for Radioisotope Power Systems on the Lunar Surface

Author(s):  
E. Wayne Tobery ◽  
David Pantano ◽  
Frank Dottore ◽  
Jaime Reyes ◽  
Ronald Creel
Author(s):  
T. M. Conboy ◽  
M. D. Carlson ◽  
G. E. Rochau

Currently, waste heat rejection from electrical power systems accounts for the largest fraction of water withdrawals from the US fresh water table. Siting of nuclear power plants is limited to areas with access to a large natural supply of fresh or sea water. Due to a rise in energy needs and increased concern over environmental impact, dry air cooling systems are poised to play a large role in the future energy economy. In practice, the implementation of dry air-cooled condensing systems at steam plants has proven to be capital-intensive and requires the power cycle to take a significant efficiency penalty. These shortcomings are fundamental to dry-air steam condensation, which must occur at a fixed temperature. Closed-cycle gas turbines are an alternative to the conventional steam Rankine plant that allow for much improved dry heat rejection compatibility. Recent research into advanced nuclear energy systems has identified the supercritical CO2 (s-CO2) Brayton cycle in particular as a viable candidate for many proposed reactor types. The s-CO2 Brayton cycle can maintain superior thermal efficiency over a wide range of ambient temperatures, making these power systems ideally suited for dry air cooling, even in warm climates. For an SFR operating at 550°C, thermal efficiency is calculated to be 43% with a 50°C compressor inlet temperature. This is achieved by raising CO2 compressor inlet pressure in response to rising ambient temperatures. Preliminary design studies have shown that s-CO2 power cycle hardware will be compact and therefore well-matched to near-term and advanced integral SMR designs. These advantages also extend to the cooling plant, where it is estimated that dry cooling towers for an SFR-coupled s-CO2 power cycle will be similar in cost and scale to the evaporative cooling tower for an LWR. The projected benefits of the s-CO2 power cycle coupled to dry air heat rejection may enable the long-awaited rise of next-generation nuclear energy systems, while re-drawing the map for siting of small and large nuclear energy systems.


2017 ◽  
Vol 325 ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senqing Fan ◽  
Minghai Li ◽  
Sizhong Li ◽  
Tong Zhou ◽  
Yupeng Hu ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neville Marzwell ◽  
Ronald J. Pogorzelski ◽  
Kai Chang ◽  
Frank Little ◽  
Mohamed S. El-Genk

2021 ◽  
pp. 31-46
Author(s):  
Рустем Юсуфович Турна

For spacecraft (SC) with power unit capacity more than 4 ... 6 kW promising construction of thermal control system (TCS) based on two-phase mechanically pumped loops (2PMPL). The development of 2PMPL has been carried out quite intensively since the early '80s. However, so far there are no examples of practical implementation of such high-power systems. One of the main reasons mentioned is the novelty of the system, and insufficient study of its operation in space conditions, which adds risks. The most important component of such systems is a heat rejection subsystem (HRS), whose task is to reject heat from the coolant and radiate it into space. In its turn, HRS is also a system, the design of which requires using a system approach, considering various aspects of its operation. HRS includes a heat-hydraulic network and a radiation heat exchanger (RHE). The key elements of the HRS are condensers (CC), quite new devices for space technology. This paper presents an algorithm for the design and optimization of the heat rejection subsystem (HRS) of a satellite two-phase thermal control system. The methodology of engineering synthesis of complex technical systems and informal procedures for multi-criteria optimization of elements and subsystems at various stages of HRS design is repeatedly used. t is shown that optimization should be carried out both at the level of elements and subsystems, and at the level of the whole thermal control system. As a result of the study, the HRS design is proposed, which uses condensers in the form of smooth steel tubes of constant cross-section and their series-parallel connection scheme in the hydraulic network. Main advantages of the design: traditional for single-phase loops elements are used; operation of elements and subsystems in zero gravity conditions is predictable and allows complete testing on the ground without mandatory flight experiment; the system is operable at high saturation pressures (temperatures) (on ammonia - up to 85℃).


1962 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 169-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Green

The term geo-sciences has been used here to include the disciplines geology, geophysics and geochemistry. However, in order to apply geophysics and geochemistry effectively one must begin with a geological model. Therefore, the science of geology should be used as the basis for lunar exploration. From an astronomical point of view, a lunar terrain heavily impacted with meteors appears the more reasonable; although from a geological standpoint, volcanism seems the more probable mechanism. A surface liberally marked with volcanic features has been advocated by such geologists as Bülow, Dana, Suess, von Wolff, Shaler, Spurr, and Kuno. In this paper, both the impact and volcanic hypotheses are considered in the application of the geo-sciences to manned lunar exploration. However, more emphasis is placed on the volcanic, or more correctly the defluidization, hypothesis to account for lunar surface features.


1962 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 113-115
Author(s):  
D. W. G. Arthur ◽  
E. A. Whitaker

The cartography of the lunar surface can be split into two operations which can be carried on quite independently. The first, which is also the most laborious, is the interpretation of the lunar photographs into the symbolism of the map, with the addition of fine details from telescopic sketches. An example of this kind of work is contained in Johann Krieger'sMond Atlaswhich consists of photographic enlargements in which Krieger has sharpened up the detail to accord with his telescopic impressions. Krieger did not go on either to convert the photographic picture into the line symbolism of a map, or to place this picture on any definite map projection.


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