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Applying design principles to fusion reactor configurations for propulsion in space
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Deveny, Marc E. Carpenter, Scott A. Schulze, Norman R. |
| Copyright Year | 1993 |
| Description | The application of fusion power to space propulsion requires rethinking the engineering-design solution to controlled-fusion energy. Whereas the unit cost of electricity (COE) drives the engineering-design solution for utility-based fusion reactor configurations; initial mass to low earth orbit (IMLEO), specific jet power (kW(thrust)/kg(engine)), and reusability drive the engineering-design solution for successful application of fusion power to space propulsion. We applied three design principles (DP's) to adapt and optimize three candidate-terrestrial-fusion-reactor configurations for propulsion in space. The three design principles are: provide maximum direct access to space for waste radiation, operate components as passive radiators to minimize cooling-system mass, and optimize the plasma fuel, fuel mix, and temperature for best specific jet power. The three candidate terrestrial fusion reactor configurations are: the thermal barrier tandem mirror (TBTM), field reversed mirror (FRM), and levitated dipole field (LDF). The resulting three candidate space fusion propulsion systems have their IMLEO minimized and their specific jet power and reusability maximized. We performed a preliminary rating of these configurations and concluded that the leading engineering-design solution to space fusion propulsion is a modified TBTM that we call the Mirror Fusion Propulsion System (MFPS). |
| File Size | 1676550 |
| Page Count | 22 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19940006581 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t56f0s01h |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1993-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Propulsion And Power Nuclear Propulsion Mirror Fusion Fusion Reactors Design Analysis Nuclear Rocket Engines Spacecraft Propulsion Nuclear Fuels Low Earth Orbits Controlled Fusion Tandem Mirrors Magnetic Mirrors Reactor Design Rocket Engine Design Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
