Abstract

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) demonstrated a reported technology readiness level of 5 during the work performed in the 1950s–1970s under the Rover program. This level of capability was achieved through the design, construction, and use of 22 experimental ground tests. These experiments served as testbeds for designs, materials, and instrumentation at prototypical NTP conditions. To continue the investigation into NTP system materials, components, and fuels, a modern experimental testbed has been designed and implemented. A steady-state, high-temperature, subscale, in-pile testbed has been developed to continue this investigation. The In-Pile Experiment Set Apparatus (INSET) has demonstrated that it can be used to test samples under two NTP prototypical environmental factors: temperature and neutron fluence. The demonstration using The Ohio State University Research Reactor is presented here. This demonstration required INSET to maintain a thermal environment below 1070 K for 15 min during a 5-h irradiation to achieve a neutron fluence around 10¹⁷ n/cm².

摘要

在 1950 年代至 1970 年代在漫游者计划下进行的工作期间，核热推进 (NTP) 显示出报告的技术准备水平为 5。这种能力水平是通过设计、建造和使用 22 次实验性地面测试实现的。这些实验用作原型 NTP 条件下设计、材料和仪器的试验台。为了继续研究 NTP 系统材料、组件和燃料，设计并实施了现代实验测试台。已经开发了一个稳态、高温、亚尺度、堆内试验台来继续这项研究。堆内实验装置 (INSET) 已证明它可用于在两种 NTP 原型环境因素下测试样品：温度和中子注量。此处展示了使用俄亥俄州立大学研究反应堆的演示。该演示要求 INSET 在 5 小时辐照期间将热环境保持在 1070 K 以下 15 分钟，以实现约 10¹⁷ 牛顿/厘米²。