Martian Surface Reactor Group December 3, 2004Motivation for MarsMotivation for MSRNuclear Physics/Engineering 101Slide 5GoalsMSR ComponentsMSR MissionProposed Mission ArchitectureCORECore - Design ConceptCore - Design ChoicesCore - Pin GeometryCore – Design AdvantagesCore – Reactivity ControlCore - Smear CompositionCore - Power PeakingOperation over LifetimeLaunch Accident AnalysisLaunch Accident ResultsCore SummaryFuture WorkPCUPCU – Mission StatementPCU – Design ChoicesPCU – Heat Extraction from CorePCU – Heat Pipes (2)PCU - ThermionicsPCU – Thermionics DesignPCU - Thermionics Issues & SolutionsPCU – Power TransmissionPCU – Heat Exchanger to RadiatorPCU – Failure AnalysisPCU – Future WorkRadiatorObjectiveSlide 37Decision MethodologyComponent DesignStructural DesignSupportAnalysisFutureShieldingShielding - Design ConceptShielding - ConstraintsShielding - Design ChoicesShielding - Dose w/o shieldingShielding - NeutronsShielding - Neutrons (2)Shielding - Neutrons (3)Shielding - GammasShielding - Gammas (2)Shielding - Gammas (3)Shielding - DesignShielding - Design (2)Shielding - Alternative DesignsShielding -Alternative Designs (2)Shielding - Future WorkMSR Assembly SketchMSR MassMSR CostMass ReductionMRS Design AdvantagesMSR Mission PlanMSR Group Expanding Frontiers with Nuclear TechnologyNuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Martian Surface Reactor Group Martian Surface Reactor GroupDecember 3, 2004MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 2Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Motivation for Mars•“We need to see and examine and touch for ourselves”•“…and create a new generation of innovators and pioneers.”MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 3Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Motivation for MSR 10/15/2004 Slide 1Competition Sensitive – Do not distribute outside of NASA / Draper / MIT teamBill [email protected] Concept Exploration and Refinement StudySurface PowerLunar Surface Power OptionsFission ReactorFission Reactor + SolarRadioisotope + SolarSolarChemicalDuration of useElectric Power Level (kWe)Martian Surface Power Options- Solar power becomes much less feasible- Mars further from Sun(45% less power)- Day/night cycle- Dust storms- Too-short Lifetime forMartian missions- Nuclear Power dominates curve for Martian missions.MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 4Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Physics/Engineering 101MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 5Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Physics/Engineering 101MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 6Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Goals•Litmus Test–Works on Moon and Mars–100 kWe –5 EFPY –Obeys Environmental Regulations–Safe •Extent-To-Which Test–Small Mass and Size–Controllable –Launchable/Accident Safe–High Reliability and Limited Maintenance–ScalabilityMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 7Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology MSR Components•Core–Nuclear Components, Heat•Power Conversion Unit–Electricity, Heat Exchange•Radiator–Waste Heat Rejection•Shielding–Radiation ProtectionMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 8Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology MSR Mission•Nuclear Power for the Martian Surface–Test on Lunar Surface•Design characteristics of MSR–Safe and Reliable–Light and Compact–Launchable and Accident Resistant –Environmentally FriendlyMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 9Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Proposed Mission ArchitectureHabitat ReactorMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 10Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology COREMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 11Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Core - Design Concept•Design criteria:–100 kWe reactor on one rocket–5 EFPY–Low mass–Safely Launchable–Maintenance Free and ReliableMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 12Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Core - Design Choices•Fast Spectrum, High Temp•Ceramic Fuel – Uranium Nitride, 33.1 w/o enriched•Lithium Heatpipe Coolant•Tantalum Burnable Poison•Hafnium Core Vessel•External Control By Drums•Zr3Si2 Reflector material•TaB2 Control material•Fuel Pin Elements in tricusp configurationMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 13Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology HeatpipeFuel PinTricusp MaterialCore - Pin Geometry•Fuel pins are the same size as the heat pipes and arranged in tricusp design.MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 14Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Core – Design Advantages•UN fuel, Ta poison, Re Clad/Structure high melting point, heat transfer, neutronics performance, and limited corrosion•Heat pipes no pumps, excellent heat transfer, reduce system mass. •Li working fluid operates at high temperatures necessary for power conversion unit (1800 K)MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 15Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Core – Reactivity Control•Reflector controls neutron leakage•Control drums add little mass to the system and offer high reliability due to few moving partsRadial ReflectorControl DrumReflector and Core Top-Down ViewReflectorCoreFuel PinFuelReflectorZr3Si2 ReflectorTotal Mass: 2654kg42 cm88 cm10 cm10 cmReflectorMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 16Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Core - Smear CompositionMaterial Purpose Volume Fraction7LiCoolant 0.07275946915NFuel Compound 0.353381879NatNbHeatpipe 0.076032901181TaPoison 0.037550786NatReCladding/Structure 0.110216571235UFissile Fuel 0.116593812238UFertile Fuel 0.233464583MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 17Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Core - Power PeakingPeaking Factor, F(r)00.20.40.60.811.21.4-22 -20 -18 -16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22Core Radius (cm)F(r)31.1InDrumsRPPR24.1OutDrumsRPPFMSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 18Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology Operation over Lifetimekeff over Core Lifetime0.800.850.900.951.001.051.101.151.200 1 2 3 4 5 6Years at Full PowerkeffBOL keff: 0.975 – 1.027EOL keff: 0.989 – 1.044effkD= 0.052effkD= 0.055MSR Group, 12/3/2004Slide 19Nuclear Engineering DepartmentMassachusetts Institute of