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

Paper Number: 135685

135685 - Thermodynamic Characteristics Analysis of Helium Xenon Mixed Working Medium Space Closed Brayton Cycle Nuclear Reactor 

Abstract: 

Stable, safe, and efficient energy supply is indispensable in long-distance, long-term, or heavy workload space missions. Traditional chemical power sources are not suitable for long-term, high-power missions, while solar power sources face problems such as excessive quality and easy damage. Nuclear energy is favored by many countries due to its high energy density, small footprint, and stable energy supply. Among them, space nuclear reactors have characteristics such as high output power, wide range of output power changes, and strong anti-interference ability. Given the possibility of high-power, long-term missions such as space resource development in the future, the power demand for space power sources is gradually increasing, and the strategic significance of space nuclear reactors is becoming increasingly apparent. Based on the demand for high-power, long-term, and stable output space nuclear energy in the future, the Brayton cycle, as a fourth generation reactor type, has the characteristics of high safety, high economy, and high power generation efficiency. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reviewed the energy demand for future high-power civilian space missions, with power requirements ranging from 10 kW to 100 MW. For space missions with power requirements exceeding 10 kW, the combination of the Brayton cycle and reactor power supply, due to its small specific mass, is the preferred choice for a hundred kilowatt level power supply and is a key energy conversion scheme for future deep space exploration by major space powers. At present, closed Brayton cycle space reactors are mainly divided into two types. One type is to use liquid metals such as lithium to cool the reactor, while the second circuit uses gas working fluid to generate electricity through the Brayton cycle. The other type is to directly enter the core of the gas coolant to absorb heat and participate in the Brayton cycle, which only has a single circuit. The main research object of this article is the direct gas cooled closed Brayton cycle reactor. Using the MWorks platform and Modelica language, a simulation model is built through modular modeling of the main equipment for the design, analysis, optimization, and other operations of the Brayton cycle space reactor. The steady-state characteristic analysis of the helium xenon mixed working fluid space closed Brayton cycle reactor is carried out, and sensitivity to reactor parameters is achieved. Analysis. At the same time, heat recovery and reheat optimization are carried out on the basis of general closed Brayton cycle nuclear reactors. The relevant models and data results may support future research on the characteristics of space nuclear reactors.

Presenting Author: 玉兰 赵 哈尔滨工业

Presenting Author Biography: Serving as a teacher at Harbin Institute of Technology

Authors:

Yuhang Liu Harbin Institute of Technology
Yulan Zhao Harbin Institute of Technology
Kunlin Cheng Harbin Institute of Technology
Haochun Zhang Harbin Institute of Technology