3.2 Study Ground Rules The specific ground rules for this study are shown in Table 3.1 and are discussed in detail below. 3.2.1 Technology Status Perhaps the most significant ground rule and the one most often neglected in many conceptual proposals requires us to consider only near-term or nearer technology in our conceptual system estimates. This has far reaching implications. For example, we believe that power conditioning devices can be developed that will tolerate higher radiation doses and operating temperatures than presently possible; but not in the near-term. This means that the reactor shield and the power conditioning radiator will be heavier in a near-term system than one built later using power conditioning devices which could operate in higher temperature and radiation environments. There are of course many different opinions regarding what is and is not "near-term" technology and our opinion is only one of a very large set. We have used the following general definition for "near-term" technology: "We expect that necessary parts and materials could be developed and a prototype proven by hardware testing on the ground within 5 years if a concerted effort is made and funding is available to do so." It is also important to recognize that technology risks and development costs are not the same among the systems labeled as near-term. For example, the SP-100 Thermoelectric Program has been underway since 1983 although the thermoelectric energy conversion devices employed in SP-100 have not yet been tested. A test program is in place which is successfully addressing the technical issues associated with thermionic fuel element energy conversion devices and STAR-C utilizes a flat plate thermionic diode conversion approach that has been under development for years. Nonetheless, the Thermionic Fuel Element and STAR-C concepts are based primarily on studies and the fuel form STAR-C proposes has never been produced in the United States. None of the systems have demonstrated the ability of either
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