Robust nuclear propulsion fission reactor with tri-pitch patterned core and drum absorbers

Nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure has an active core region including fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures (such as drum absorbers), and a core former conformal mating the outer surface of the fuel element structures to the reflector. Fuel elemen...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Fisher, Benjamin D, Gramlich, Craig D, Russell, II, William E
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 21.05.2024
Subjects
AIRCRAFT
AVIATION
COSMONAUTICS
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
NUCLEAR REACTORS
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
PHYSICS
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
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Summary:Nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure has an active core region including fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures (such as drum absorbers), and a core former conformal mating the outer surface of the fuel element structures to the reflector. Fuel element structures are arranged abutting nearest neighbor fuel element structures in a tri-pitch design. Cladding bodies defining coolant channels are inserted into and joined to upper and lower core plates to from a continuous structure that is a first portion of the containment structure. The nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure can be incorporated into a nuclear thermal propulsion engine for propulsion applications, such as space propulsion.
Bibliography:Application Number: US202016999244