Nuclear thermal propulsion engine system design analysis code development

Abstract

A Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) Engine System Design Analyis Code has recently been developed to characterize key NTP engine system design features. Such a versatile, standalone NTP system performance and engine design code is required to support ongoing and future engine system and vehicle design efforts associated with proposed Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) missions of interest. Key areas of interest in the engine system modeling effort were the reactor, shielding, and inclusion of an engine multi‐redundant propellant pump feed system design option. A solid‐core nuclear thermal reactor and internal shielding code model was developed to estimate the reactor’s thermal‐hydraulic and physical parameters based on a prescribed thermal output which was integrated into a state‐of‐the‐art engine system design model. The reactor code module has the capability to model graphite, composite, or carbide fuels. Key output from the model consists of reactor parameters such as thermal power, pressure drop, thermal profile, and heat generation in cooled structures (reflector, shield, and core supports), as well as the engine system parameters such as weight, dimensions, pressures, temperatures, mass flows, and performance. The model’s overall analysis methodology and its key assumptions and capabilities are summarized in this paper.