| dc.description.abstract | This project investigates the use of low enriched uranium tristructural-isoptropic (TRISO) fuels in a potential lunar and martian nuclear reactor with the primary objective of minimizing overall reactor mass. Extraterrestrial power source options are significantly restricted by their mass, as chemical-driven launches into orbit are expensive and size-restricted. Since nuclear power sources are widely considered to be the only potential means of electricity generation for habitation in space, the mass constraint has become a particularly important issue to be addressed. These fuels were developed during the Generation IV initiative, and are presently the subject of great interest within the nuclear community. TRISO boasts promising results in burnup, longevity, heat resistance, and safety. Therefore, this team believes that the research in the use of TRISO for space applications should be further explored. In this study, present-day core fuel assemblies and materials typically used in high temperature gas small modular reactors are analyzed and adapted to the low-gravity lunar environment while attempting to meet a 20 wt% enrichment constraint. Using a Uranium Carbide TRISO particle, an experimental reactor system is optimized to minimize the mass of the assembly, while maintaining a critical core, in conjunction with reflectors. The design goal of the project aims to cap the overall mass of the reactor at a maximum of 3500 kg, and maintain a power level of 10 kW for a minimum of 10 years. Particular design emphasis is focused on the use of low enriched uranium as a fission source, since previous highly-enriched uranium designs have come under scrutiny for non-proliferation concerns. This project explores the design of a low-mass, low-enriched uranium TRISO fuel reactor core that has been specialized for lunar and martian habitation and exploration. The project concludes with an analysis of the effect that Uranium enrichment had on meeting the design constraints, such as mass, power output, and lifetime. | |
