Heat Transfer and Containment Process in Two Phase Cavity Nuclear Reactor.
Abstract
Experimental study of liquid containment and heat transfer rates in a gas driven confined vortex is performed with reference to desired operating conditions for a liquid core nuclear rocket. Simple methods of containment and transport processes are used to scale the data to a predicted performance capability of a nominal 20,000 pound thrust, 1200 second specific impulse system. Molten fuel containment, as a two phase zone on the cylindrical cavity side walls, appears feasible at or above levels required for thermal neutron reactor criticality. Two potential problems are that the input gas flow distribution must be chosen to avoid freezing of the nuclear fuel at the cavity walls, and that the overshoot of the fuel temperature relative to the peak gas stagnation temperature may cause excessive fuel vapor loss. (Modified author abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0778427
Entities
People
- D. B. Stickler
- H. Lakshmikantha
- W. S. Lewellen
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology