US 5,410,578 A · Nuclear propulsion rocket

Abstract

A nuclear propulsion reactor. A pressure vessel is provided with a reactor core that is surrounded by a radial reflector. Nuclear fuel elements in the core are formed from a hexagonal housing made from a high performance moderator and having a plurality of axial bores that extend the full length of the housing. A stack of nuclear fuel compacts having axial bores for coolant flow is received in the central axial bore of the housing. Hollow lithium hydride slugs are received in the bores at the corners of the housing. A rocket nozzle is attached to one end of the pressure vessel. Coolant/propellant flows into a passageway around the rocket nozzle for cooling thereof, upward through bores in the reflector and through the hexagonal housings of the fuel elements, downward through the bores in the nuclear fuel compacts and then out the rocket nozzle where propulsive thrust is produced.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A nuclear propulsion rocket, comprising:

a. a pressure vessel;
b. a reactor core in said pressure vessel having a plurality of nuclear fuel elements wherein each nuclear fuel element comprises:
i. a hexagonal housing formed from moderator material and having a plurality of axial bores, including a central axial bore, along the full length of said housing;
ii. nuclear fuel received in the central axial bore of said hexagonal housing;
iii. insulation material received in the central axial bore of said hexagonal housing around said nuclear fuel;
and
iv. a plurality of hollow lithium hydride slugs stacked in one or more but less than all of the axial bores in said hexagonal housing;
c. a radial reflector between said pressure vessel and said reactor core;
and
d. a rocket nozzle in fluid communication with the interior of said pressure vessel.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Nuclear propulsion rocket

Life of this patent

Nuclear propulsion rocket

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10