Overview of CNES-CEA Joint Programme on Space Nuclear Brayton Systems F. CARRfi, E. PROUST, S. CHAUDOURNE, P. KEIRLE, Z. TILLIETTE & B. VRILLONf SUMMARY In 1982, a cooperative programme about nuclear space power systems was initiated between the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the Commissariat a I'Energie Atomique (CEA), with a view to assessing the feasibility, lead time, cost, competitiveness and development prospects of nuclear Space Power Systems (SPS) of 20 to 200 kWe. A first study phase, completed in mid 1986, was devoted to preliminary feasibility and cost studies of a reference 200 kWe turboelectric nuclear SPS (ERATO) compatible with the ARIANE V launcher. The present three year study phase is mainly oriented toward the assessment of the various reactor candidate technologies and system design options for nuclear SPS of the 20 kWe class, which corresponds to the expected power needs of the first european space missions anticipated from year 2005 onward. In addition, a comparison study of potential 20 kWe space power systems has been undertaken, with the aim of evaluating the competitiveness of nuclear systems over solar dynamic or photovoltaic systems at this power level. This paper is intended to give an overview of the present programme phase, with emphasis on the design studies of three reference design concepts of 20kWe turboelectric nuclear power systems selected so as to cover a wide range of reactor temperatures and corresponding technologies. Background and Brief Programme Account The availability, after 1995, of the ARIANE V heavy launcher makes it possible to contemplate ambitious european space missions requiring high on board energy levels for long periods. Nuclear systems are probably the only means to efficiently meet such power needs. Consequently, a CNES-CEA joint programme on nuclear SPS was initiated in 1982, which major stages are: • 1982 to mid 1984 - Prospective study of an orbital transfer vehicle powered by a 200 kWe nuclear electric source, including a comparison of various candidate energy conversion systems and reactor concepts [1,2]. • Mid 1984 to mid 1986 - Preliminary design and development cost and lead time evaluation of a 200 kWe reference system (see Fig. 1) whose basic design options, mainly dictated by its integration with ARIANE V, are a fast spectrum lithium reactor with MoRe clad UN fuel pins [3], a redundant conversion system 1 Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex - France.
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