Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Fuel Particle”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2023

Assessment of Coated Particle Fuels for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Systems: A Report for the NESC Nuclear Power & Propulsion Technical Discipline Team

This study evaluates terrestrial reactor fuel forms, with an emphasis on the coated particle fuel capability under development by interagency reactor programs, for application to space reactor systems of interest to NASA. A comprehensive review of coated particle fuel readiness and qualification status has been performed. Possible derivative fuel forms based on coated particle fuel manufacture technologies are identified and assessed for fission surface power, nuclear electric propulsion, and nuclear thermal propulsion systems. Assessments for terrestrial coated particle and historic fuels were compared for each system allowing for relative risk and common fuel qualification needs to be identified.

Fission Surface Power↗
NASA NTRS1990

Investigation of methods to produce a uniform cloud of fuel particles in a flame tube

The combustion of a uniform, quiescent cloud of 30-micron fuel particles in a flame tube was proposed as a space-based, low-gravity experiment. The subject is the normal- and low-gravity testing of several methods to produce such a cloud, including telescoping propeller fans, air pumps, axial and quadrature acoustical speakers, and combinations of these devices. When operated in steady state, none of the methods produced an acceptably uniform cloud (+ or - 5 percent of the mean concentration), and voids in the cloud were clearly visible. In some cases, severe particle agglomeration was observed; however, these clusters could be broken apart by a short acoustic burst from an axially in-line speaker. Analyses and experiments reported elsewhere suggest that transient, acoustic mixing methods can enhance cloud uniformity while minimizing particle agglomeration.

Siegert, Clifford E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Preparing oxidizer coated metal fuel particles

A solid propellant composition of improved efficiency is described which includes an oxidizer containing ammonium perchlorate, and a powered metal fuel, preferably aluminum or beryllium, in the form of a composite. The metal fuel is contained in the crystalline lattice framework of the oxidizer, as well as within the oxidizer particles, and is disposed in the interstices between the oxidizer particles of the composition. The propellant composition is produced by a process comprising the crystallization of ammonium perchlorate in water, in the presence of finely divided aluminum or beryllium. A suitable binder is incorporated in the propellant composition to bind the individual particles of metal with the particles of oxidizer containing occluded metal.

Shafer, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mixing fuel particles for space combustion research using acoustics

Part of the microgravity science to be conducted aboard the Shuttle (STS) involves combustion using solids, particles, and liquid droplets. The central experimental facts needed for characterization of premixed quiescent particle cloud flames cannot be adequately established by normal gravity studies alone. The experimental results to date of acoustically mixing a prototypical particulate, lycopodium, in a 5 cm diameter by 75 cm long flame tube aboard a Learjet aircraft flying a 20 sec low gravity trajectory are described. Photographic and light detector instrumentation combine to measure and characterize particle cloud uniformity.

Burns, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mixing fuel particles for space combustion research using acoustics

Part of the microgravity science to be conducted aboard the Shuttle (STS) involves combustion using solids, particles, and liquid droplets. The central experimental facts needed for characterization of premixed quiescent particle cloud flames cannot be adequately established by normal gravity studies alone. The experimental results to date of acoustically mixing a prototypical particulate, lycopodium, in a 5 cm diameter by 75 cm long flame tube aboard a Learjet aircraft flying a 20-sec low-gravity trajectory are described. Photographic and light detector instrumentation combine to measure and characterize particle cloud uniformity.

Burns, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The structure of premixed particle-cloud flames

The structure of premixed flames propagating in combustible systems, containing uniformly distributed volatile fuel particles, in an oxidizing gas mixture, is analyzed. It is presumed that the fuel particles vaporize first to yield a gaseous fuel of known chemical structure, which is subsequently oxidized in the gas phase. The analysis is performed in the asymptotic limit, where the value of the characteristic Zeldovich number, based on the gas-phase oxidation of the gaseous fuel is large, and for values of phi(u) greater than or equal to 1.0, where phi(u) is the equivalence ratio based on the fuel available in the fuel particles. The structure of the flame is presumed to consist of a preheat vaporization zone where the rate of the gas-phase chemical reaction is small, a reaction zone where convection and the rate of vaporization of the fuel particles are small and a convection zone where diffusive terms in the conservation equations are small. For given values phi(u) the analysis yields results for the burning velocity and phi(g) where phi(g) is the effective equivalence ratio in the reaction zone. The analysis shows that even though phi(u) greater than or equal to 1.0, for certain cases the calculated value of phi(g) is less than unity. This prediction is in agreement with experimental observations.

Seshadri, K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Nuclear fuels status

A discussion on coated particle fuel performance from a modular High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) is presented along with experimental results. The following topics are covered: (1) the coated particle fuel concept; (2) the functional requirements; (3) performance limiting mechanisms; (4) fuel performance; and (5) methods/techniques for characterizing performance.

Kania, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1992

The structure of particle cloud premixed flames

The structure of premixed flames propagating in combustible systems containing uniformly distributed volatile fuel particles in an oxidizing gas mixture is analyzed. This analysis is motivated by experiments conducted at NASA Lewis Research Center on the structure of flames propagating in combustible mixtures of lycopodium particles and air. Several interesting modes of flame propagation were observed in these experiments depending on the number density and the initial size of the fuel particle. The experimental results show that steady flame propagation occurs even if the initial equivalence ratio of the combustible mixture based on the gaseous fuel available in the particles, phi sub u, is substantially larger than unity. A model is developed to explain these experimental observations. In the model, it is presumed that the fuel particles vaporize first to yield a gaseous fuel of known chemical composition which then reacts with oxygen in a one-step overall process. The activation energy of the chemical reaction is presumed to be large. The activation energy characterizing the kinetics of vaporization is also presumed to be large. The equations governing the structure of the flame were integrated numerically. It is shown that the interplay of vaporization kinetics and oxidation process can result in steady flame propagation in combustible mixtures where the value of phi sub u is substantially larger than unity. This prediction is in agreement with experimental observations.

Seshadri, K.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Nuclear Rocket Ceramic Metal Fuel Fabrication Using Tungsten Powder Coating and Spark Plasma Sintering

Nuclear thermal propulsion is an enabling technology for crewed Mars missions. An investigation was conducted to evaluate spark plasma sintering (SPS) as a method to produce tungsten-depleted uranium dioxide (W-dUO2) fuel material when employing fuel particles that were tungsten powder coated. Ceramic metal fuel wafers were produced from a blend of W-60vol% dUO2 powder that was sintered via SPS. The maximum sintering temperatures were varied from 1,600 to 1,850 C while applying a 50-MPa axial load. Wafers exhibited high density (>95% of theoretical) and a uniform microstructure (fuel particles uniformly dispersed throughout tungsten matrix).

Barnes, M. W.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environmental Simulator (NTREES) Upgrade Activities

Over the past year the Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environmental Simulator (NTREES) has been undergoing a significant upgrade beyond its initial configuration. The NTREES facility is designed to perform realistic non-nuclear testing of nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) fuel elements and fuel materials. Although the NTREES facility cannot mimic the neutron and gamma environment of an operating NTR, it can simulate the thermal hydraulic environment within an NTR fuel element to provide critical information on material performance and compatibility. The first phase of the upgrade activities which was completed in 2012 in part consisted of an extensive modification to the hydrogen system to permit computer controlled operations outside the building through the use of pneumatically operated variable position valves. This setup also allows the hydrogen flow rate to be increased to over 200 g/sec and reduced the operation complexity of the system. The second stage of modifications to NTREES which has just been completed expands the capabilities of the facility significantly. In particular, the previous 50 kW induction power supply has been replaced with a 1.2 MW unit which should allow more prototypical fuel element temperatures to be reached. The water cooling system was also upgraded to so as to be capable of removing 100% of the heat generated during. This new setup required that the NTREES vessel be raised onto a platform along with most of its associated gas and vent lines. In this arrangement, the induction heater and water systems are now located underneath the platform. In this new configuration, the 1.2 MW NTREES induction heater will be capable of testing fuel elements and fuel materials in flowing hydrogen at pressures up to 1000 psi at temperatures up to and beyond 3000 K and at near-prototypic reactor channel power densities. NTREES is also capable of testing potential fuel elements with a variety of propellants, including hydrogen with additives to inhibit corrosion of certain potential NTR fuel forms. Additional diagnostic upgrades included in the present NTREES set up include the addition of a gamma ray spectrometer located near the vent filter to detect uranium fuel particles exiting the fuel element in the propellant exhaust stream to provide additional information any material loss occurring during testing. Other aspects of the upgrade included reworking NTREES to reduce the operational complexity of the system despite the increased complexity of the induction heating system. To this end, many of the controls were consolidated on fewer panels. As part of this upgrade activity, the Safety Assessment (SA) and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for NTREES were extensively rewritten. The new 1.2 MW induction heater consists of three physical units consisting of a transformer, rectifier, and inverter. This multiunit arrangement facilitated increasing the flexibility of the induction heater by more easily allowing variable frequency operation. Frequency ranges between 20 and 60 kHz can be accommodated in the new induction heater allowing more representative power distributions to be generated within the test elements.

Emrich, William J., Jr.↗