Fuel Temperature Considerations Due to In-Element Peaking of NTP Fuel

摘要

In-element power peaking in nuclear thermal propulsion fuel elements produces non-spatially uniform power profdes. Current analysis techniques neglect this effect by only considering a unit cell with constant power generation. The implications of the non-uniform power distribution are considered in this work. It is found that the power shape depends on boundary conditions used depending on axial location. Near maximum heat generation and maximum fuel temperature, tens of degrees of difference in maximum element temperature can be observed comparing constant and shaped power profiles.