Ultrahigh temperature vapor core nuclear reactor/MHD generator Rankine cycle space power system

Studies are being conducted on an innovative space power system that combines a uranium tetrafluoride (UF/sub 4/) ultrahigh-temperature vapor core reactor (UTVR) and a disk magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator to obtain closed-cycle burst-mode operation (hundreds of MWe power level for a few thousand seconds). Use of UF/sub 4/ as the vapor fuel and metal fluorides as the working fluid in the UTVR/MHD generator allows for operation on a direct, closed-Rankine-type cycle and leads to space power systems with high efficiency ( approximately=20%), small radiator size ( approximately=5 m/sup 5//MWe) and high specific power ( approximately=10 kWe/kg).<
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