Session: 04-12: SMRs, Advanced Reactors and Fusion

Paper Number: 135644

135644 - Conceptual Design of High-Power Nuclear Power System on the Surface of Mars 

Abstract: 

Mars stands as an important target for deep space exploration and development. Internationally, major aerospace powers have developed plans for Mars exploration with the goal of achieving manned missions around 2050. The success of landing on Mars, establishment of a Martian base, and exploitation of Martian resources all require addressing the issue of energy supply. MW-level power sources have become a critical requirement. Nuclear reactor power sources, characterized by high power, strong environmental adaptability, long lifespan, and stable output, present themselves as an ideal power solution for the Martian surface. For MW-level nuclear reactor systems on Mars, the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycle offers technical advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, compact equipment, low specific mass, and system simplicity. Additionally, it can utilize the Martian CO2 atmosphere for the supply of working fluids, eliminating the need to transport them from Earth to Mars. The above advantages make it a promising technological roadmap. This article aims to conduct a preliminary conceptual design of a MW-level nuclear power system on the Martian surface based on sCO2 power technology. To explore the native application potential of the Martian atmosphere, two working fluids, pure CO2, and a mixed gas of Martian surface atmospheric components (CO2/N2/Ar), are selected for investigation. Firstly, molecular dynamics simulation is used to calculate the physical properties of CO2 and mixed gases. Then, compared with experimental data, the state equation is adjusted to establish a reliable physical property calculation strategy. Based on this strategy, the variations in key properties of pure CO2 and mixed gas under different temperatures and pressures are comparatively analyzed, assessing the thermodynamic performance of the mixed gas of Martian surface atmospheric components. To construct a high-power power supply system on the Martian surface based on SCO2 power technology, layout design and thermodynamic modeling of a simple Brayton cycle in space are carried out. According to the cyclic process, thermodynamic analysis is conducted on key equipment and processes such as compressor, turbine, and heat exchanger to obtain objective functions for efficiency and specific work. Subsequently, the correctness of the model is verified. Based on this foundation, the cycle efficiency of the system under typical Martian surface conditions is calculated, and the cycle characteristics of the system are analyzed and evaluated, completing the preliminary conceptual design of a MW-level nuclear power system on the Martian surface based on sCO2 power technology. This achievement will lay the theoretical groundwork for future design optimizations.

Presenting Author: Yansong Han Tsinghua University

Presenting Author Biography: Yansong Han is a senior student at Tsinghua University, who will be pursuing a PhD degree jointly trained by Tsinghua University and the Nuclear Power Institute of China, and his main research field is supercritical carbon dioxide nuclear energy and power system.

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