As part of an investigation of the application of nuclear energy to aircraft, calculations have been made to determine the effect of several operating conditions on the performance of condensers for steam-turbine power plants. The analysis covered a range of turbine-inlet pressures from 1000 to 1800 pounds per square inch absolute and turbine-outlet pressures from 10 to 200 pounds per square inch absolute for various condenser cooling-air pressure drops, flight speeds, and altitudes. Some calcula¬tions were made to determine the advisability of using a cooling fan in conjunction with the steam condenser.nA rough estimate of the total power-plant weight including propeller but excluding reactor is included along with values of the ratio of disposable load (load-carrying capacity) to airplane gross weight for a steam-turbine-powered aircraft at one set of turbine operating conditions and two flight conditions.nAt a turbine-inlet pressure-of 1400 pounds per square inch absolute and a turbine-inlet temperature of 866° F, the minimum specific condenser weight was 257 pounds per 1000 net thrust horsepower and the minimum specific condenser frontal area was 16.7 square feet per 1000 net thrust horsepower. These values occurred at a turbine-outlet pressure of 100 pounds per square inch absolute, a flight speed of 500 miles per hour, and an altitude of about 15,000 feet.
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