Evaluation of Minimally-Intrusive Power Generation System (MIPS) Design Alternatives for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

摘要

NASA's current Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Project has been tasked with assessing low-enriched uranium engine designs for feasibility. Three of the leading technical challenges that will need to be explicitly evaluated are mid-band corrosion and embrittlcment of the fuel elements, long-term cryogenic hydrogen storage, and reactor shutdown and cooling operations. Over the years, several design alternatives have been proposed that could address some of these topics including a baseline blowdown/cooldown approach, an orbital maneuvering system (OMS), or a bimodal configuration. Previously, the author has introduced three additional solutions specifically tailored to address these three technical challenges, called Minimally-Intrusive Power generation Systems (MIPS). This work investigates if a MIPS design could serve as an encompassing solution by evaluating them in relation to the three alternative designs. These options were compared in regard to their total mass savings, impact to engine propulsive performance, technology readiness level, cost, specific power, and total power generation. Ideally, the results of this trade study will be identification of any feasible MIPS designs and selection of the configuration that best meets the stated design requirements. This option will then be further refined and validated in future works.