Lightweight Heat Pipe Radiator for Nuclear Reactor Power Systems on Lunar Surface

Abstract

Heat rejection radiators of nuclear reactor power systems for space exploration and for planetary surface power are the largest component by volume and mass, depending on the radiator’s design and surface average temperature. This work developed designs for lightweight radiator modules for waste heat rejection on the lunar surface at a surface average temperature of 600 K. The modules each have a cesium (Cs)–titanium (Ti) heat pipe (HP) and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)/Ti heat spreading fins. The assembled panels of 10 Cs-HP modules hydraulically coupled in parallel are armored with carbon-carbon composite to protect against impacts by micrometeoroids and space debris for 10 years. The performance of the developed armored radiator panels is much superior to the current state of the art, with an areal density of 2.98 to 3.6 kg/m2, specific power of 3.36 to 3.98 kW/kg, rejected thermal power of 56.3 to 96.3 kW, and rejected power density of 7.56 kW/m2.