A preliminary assessment of reactor candidate technologies for a 20 kWe space nuclear Brayton system

In 1983, a cooperative program between the French Centre National d'Etudes Spaciales (CNES) and the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) was initiated to investigate the possible development of 20 to 200 kWe Brayton nuclear space systems. After the completion of the preliminary design of a reference 200 kWe turboelectric power system known as ERATO in 1986 (Carre et al. 1987), a second 3-year study phase was initiated. The objective of this phase was to assess the various reactor candidate technologies and system design options for 20 kWe power level for meeting the projected electric needs of the first European space missions (Carre et al. 1988). This paper presents the results of the design studies of three reference design concepts of 20 kWe turboelectric power systems covering a wide range of reactor temperatures and relevant material and reactor design technologies. Additionally the critical technology issues of the candidate systems, and other criteria relevant to the space missions are identified. The participation of the French industry in the present design activity is so far restricted to predesign studies of crucial components such as the turbomachinery and the reactor control actuators, and integration studies of the power system into the Ariane V launcher