Space nuclear power plants—I

Abstract

Space nuclear power plants can be configured in a number of different ways depending on the choice of primary loop transport, conversion techniques and heat addition and rejection systems. The large number of the possible configurations mandates a modular approach. A global approach to analyzing the various configurations has been developed. A generalized software, SNAPS (Space Nuclear Auxiliary Power analysis System), has emerged from the studies thus far. The first part of this project which we are presenting in this paper is this computer program SNAPS designed to simulate space nuclear power plants with different energy conversion techniques, to find optimal characteristics constrained in feasibility limitations, and to design the plant for maximum reliability and flexibility. This program is based on the flowsheeting approach in chemical engineering.