Analysis of Design Solutions for Direct Energy ConversionSpace Nuclear Power Systems with Sub-Megawatt Power

摘要

The changes in design configurations of space nuclear power systems (SNPS), mainlyrnwith thermionic power conversion, are considered as the installed electric power grows fromrnseveral kWEL to several hundreds of kWEL .It is shown that as the SNPS power grows, the optimumrnconfiguration for a radiator becomes a trapezium with a two-sided emitting surface. The ways forrnreduction of the (kg/kWEL) systemic criterion down to 17.5 are considered by the example ofrn“ELBRUS-400/200” SNPS. The tasks to be accomplished by the “ELBRUS-400/200 – electricrnpropulsion” complex are determined: the inter-orbital transportation to the geostationary orbitrnand the long-term power supply to the heavy stabilized platforms, the missions to the outer planetsrnof Solar system.