A modular space nuclear reactor power generation unit

Abstract

The invention discloses a modular space nuclear reactor power generation unit which comprises a power generation chamber, the power generation chamber comprises a modular reactor core area, a small turbine and a gas compressor are arranged at the two ends of the modular reactor core area respectively, the small turbine is connected with a small power generator and the gas compressor, which are located in the power generation chamber; satellite external ports are formed in the head end and the tail end of the power generation chamber, and a first power generation unit master control chamber anda second power generation unit master control chamber are arranged between the satellite external ports and the power generation chamber respectively; the power generation chamber is connected with aheat exchanger that is connected with a space heat radiation radiator heat pipe mother pipe, and the space heat radiation radiator heat pipe mother pipe is provided with a space heat radiation radiator small heat pipe. Because the multiple heat pipes are adopted in the reactor core to conduct heat power, the influence of emergency shutdown of the reactor caused by failure of a single heat pipe isavoided, the redundancy principle of nuclear reactor safety is met, and the reliability of heat transfer of the reactor core is improved.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the technical field of nuclear reactors, in particular to a modular space nuclear reactor power generation unit. Background technique [0002] Compared with fuel cells based on chemical energy and solar panel power sources based on light energy, space nuclear reactor power supplies have high power density, compact structure, all-weather power supply, strong adaptability to space environment, long duration of high-power power supply, and long service life. Therefore, the nuclear reactor power supply is especially suitable as the preferred power supply for deep space exploration, planetary exploration, lunar exploration projects, interstellar navigation, etc. A large number of conceptual studies have been carried out on the design of space nuclear reactor power supply at home and abroad. The following is a brief introduction to three typical nuclear reactor power supply design schemes. [0003] David I. Poston of the Los Alamos ...

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Problems solved by technology

[0006] The above three space nuclear reactor power supply design schemes all adopt axial fuel rods and heat pipes to be arranged in parallel in the whole stack, and the balance drum for adjusting reactivity is arranged circumferentially on the periphery of the core. This kind of layout scheme will have a power peak in the radial direction of the reactor, that is, The power of fuel elements on the periphery of the core near the control drum is low, and the power of fuel elements near the central axis is high, which is not conducive to the flat and efficient output of the radial power of the core. Furthermore, the neutron economy of this type of core is not good. The core life is relatively short; in addition, this arrangement is limited in the wide-range adjustment of the core output power, and in the actual process of manned interstellar travel and scientific exploration of the planetary surface, the electric power required for life and production is very large. In summary, this type of nuclear reactor core design scheme has certain limitations

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