Brayton Cycles for Space Nuclear Power Systems. Utilization of a Brayton Cycle Energy Conversion System in Space Nuclear Power Application

摘要

The European ARIANE 5 launch vehicle will be available around 1995 and some applications could later on imply the generation of 50 kWe to 400 kWe or more from a nuclear heat source. In France, preliminary studies in this field are co-sponsored by the ''CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES'' and the ''COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE''. In a first phase, several energy conversion means were considered. A Brayton cycle system is selected for the present assessment study. In order to adapt the power system to various application as well as possible, a cycle investigation has been carried out. The main variable parameter is the compressor inlet temperature which has a strong effect upon the conversion efficiency and the radiator area or technology. The variation of this parameter ranges from 140 deg C to 290 deg C. Correspondently, the compressor pressure ratio varies from 2.8 to 2.2. As the compressor inlet temperature decreases, the radiator area increases but the percentage of the low temperature part of this component considerably increases, making it possible to adopt a simpler, lighter technology. This study is a contribution to the determination of an energy conversion system well adapted to the geometry of the future ARIANE 5 launcher. (ERA citation 11:008774)