14 research outputs found
System model development for nuclear thermal propulsion
A critical enabling technology in the evolutionary development of nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is the ability to predict the system performance under a variety of operating conditions. This is crucial for mission analysis and for control subsystem testing as well as for the modeling of various failure modes. Performance must be accurately predicted during steady-state and transient operation, including startup, shutdown, and post operation cooling. The development and application of verified and validated system models has the potential to reduce the design, testing, and cost and time required for the technology to reach flight-ready status. Since Oct. 1991, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), and NASA have initiated critical technology development efforts for NTP systems to be used on Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) missions to the Moon and Mars. This paper presents the strategy and progress of an interagency NASA/DOE/DOD team for NTP system modeling. It is the intent of the interagency team to develop several levels of computer programs to simulate various NTP systems. The first level will provide rapid, parameterized calculations of overall system performance. Succeeding computer programs will provide analysis of each component in sufficient detail to guide the design teams and experimental efforts. The computer programs will allow simulation of the entire system to allow prediction of the integrated performance. An interagency team was formed for this task to use the best capabilities available and to assure appropriate peer review
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Nuclear fuels technologies Fiscal year 1997 research and development test plan
This document details the research and development (R&D) activities that will be conducted in fiscal year 1997 (FY97) by the Nuclear Fuels Technologies project team for the Department of Energy Office of Fissile Materials Disposition. This work is a continuation and extension of experimental activities that have been conducted in support of the disposition program with regard to using weapons-plutonium in the fabrication of mixed-oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel for reactor-based disposition. The purpose of this work is to identify and if possible, resolve, technical issues associated with applying the large experience base (existing mainly in Europe) of making MOX fuel with recycled reactor-grade plutonium to the fabrication of MOX using weapons-grade plutonium. Therefore, the projects are designed to fill one or more of three needs: (1) To provide potential fabricators a technical basis upon which to evaluate the uncertainties and technical risks associated with MOX fabrication using weapons-plutonium; (2) To provide the fabricator ultimately selected for the disposition mission with a technical basis upon which to build, thereby reducing the amount of development and time required for implementation of the MOX disposition option; and (3) To identify to DOE technical issues that it is unlikely the fabricator will address (e.g., gallium removal), and to resolve these issues or provide a clear path forward for doing so. Because of the volatile nature of the disposition program, all work described within this plan is intended to be completed this fiscal year with its culmination being one of two goals: (1) a summary of the technical results sufficient to hand over to commercial MOX fabricators for their use in planning activities; or (2) an estimate with regard to cost and schedule for follow-on activities to completely resolve the issue as well as sufficient technical supporting information in order for DOE to make well-informed decisions in this regard. 2 figs., 10 tabs
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Nuclear fuels technologies Fiscal Year 1996 research and development test results
During fiscal year 1996, the Department of Energy`s Office of Fissile Materials Disposition (OFMD) funded Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to investigate issues associated with the fabrication of plutonium from dismantled weapons into mixed-oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel for disposition in nuclear power reactors. These issues can be divided into two main categories: issues associated with the fact that the plutonium from dismantled weapons contains gallium, and issues associated with the unique characteristics of the PuO[sub 2] produced by the dry conversion process that OFMD is proposing to convert the weapons material. Initial descriptions of the experimental work performed in fiscal year 1996 to address these issues can be found in Nuclear Fuels Technologies Fiscal Year 1996 Research and Development Test Matrices. However, in some instances the change in programmatic emphasis towards the Parallex program either altered the manner in which some of these experiments were performed (i.e., the work was done as part of the Parallex fabrication development and not as individual separate-effects tests as originally envisioned) or delayed the experiments into Fiscal Year 1997. This report reviews the experiments that were conducted and presents the results
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Nuclear fuels technologies fiscal year 1996 research and research development test results
During fiscal year 1996, the Department of Energy`s Office of Fissile Materials Disposition (OFMD) funded Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to investigate issues associated with the fabrication of plutonium from dismantled weapons into mixed-oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel for disposition in nuclear power reactors. These issues can be divided into two main categories: issues associated with the fact that the plutonium from dismantled weapons contains gallium, and issues associated with the unique characteristics of the PuO{sub 2} produced by the dry conversion process that OFMD is proposing to convert the weapons material. Initial descriptions of the experimental work performed in fiscal year 1996 to address these issues can be found in Nuclear Fuels Technologies Fiscal Year 1996 Research and Development Test Matrices`. However, in some instances the change in programmatic emphasis towards the Parallex program either altered the manner in which some of these experiments were performed (i.e., the work was done as part of the Parallex fabrication development and not as individual separate-effects tests as originally envisioned) or delayed the experiments into Fiscal Year 1997. This report reviews the experiments that were conducted and presents the results. 7 figs., 14 tabs