Societal imperatives and the need for space nuclear power and propulsion systems

The development and exploitation of nuclear power and propulsion represent certain didactic imperatives for human civilization. Among these are economic, epistemological, moral and commercial propositions. Developing space nuclear power and propulsion represents one future; the choice of not to pursue the course barring some breakthrough in physics represents a dramatically different future. The author argues that the time is now fortuitous for deployment and operation of nuclear propulsion and power, primarily nuclear electric propulsion, at significant levels, employing figures of merit that transcend simple cost models used to justify nuclear power sources in the past. The proposition is examined, in the light of US and UN restrictions, to ascertain how best to proceed. The author argues that viewpoints of certain vocal albeit uninformed public interest groups are typically self-serving and generally categorically incorrect; it can be asserted that these same groups do not truly represent the public interest at all. It is, therefore, necessary to present an even-handed assessment of both sides of the argument to determine the virtues and liabilities of embarking on such a developmental path. Given the imperatives mentioned, the author argues that nuclear power and propulsion for space systems is a societal necessity.     

Comparison of nuclear and solar power plants with turboelectric generators for application in space

The aim of the analysis is to determine and to compare the specific mass of nuclear and solar power plants for application in space depending on technological data as well as on data subject to the mission.On the basis of the known theory of Ruppe and Blumenberg[1–3], nuclear power plants with turboelectric generators as well as solar-thermal power plants with parabolic or spheric mirrors are being analysed. The following thermodynamic processes are applied: the Rankine process, the Brayton process and—as an ideal comparative process—the Carnot process. An important parameter of the analysis for nuclear power plants is the net electric power, for the solar-thermal power plant the distance to the sun is of importance.     

兆瓦级探月火箭空间核电源系统设计与性能研究

针对目前空间核电源在深空探测领域功率不足的问题，结合热离子热电转换空间核电源和碱金属热电转换空间核电源的发电方式，提出一种新型空间核电源。计算堆芯有效增殖因子、功率峰值因子、冷却剂空泡系数和停堆深度等安全性参数，并通过分析接收极功函数和碱金属热电转换系统电流密度等性能参数。之后，对比耦合发电系统与原热离子热电转换空间核电源和碱金属热电转换空间核电源的效率，发现新型耦合发电系统发电效率分别较另两种发电系统提高约6％和约10％。最后建立动态模型进行分析，确保核电源可以稳定运行，为大功率核电源设计提供理论依据。     

空间核动力平台电力管理系统的设计

空间核动力平台是一种全新的电源推进一体化航天器,其电力系统具有三相交流输出、工况多且复杂、母线电压体制多等特点。为了解决空间核动力平台负载供电诸多难题,通过对系统功能、负载类型、母线体制、组成配置、工作模式、控制机制等方面论证分析,提出了一种新型空间核动力平台电力管理系统架构。其中,变配电系统从硬件实现角度解决了基于布雷顿热电转换系统输出为负载稳态供电问题,自主控制系统从软件控制角度解决了主能源、辅助能源等多能源间流动控制以及负载暂态匹配问题,这为未来空间核动力平台电力管理系统研究工作奠定了基础。     

空间核反应堆电源研究进展

随着航空航天领域对能源需求的不断扩大,核能的空间应用迎来了新的发展高潮。本文针对空间核反应堆技术的发展现状进行综述,重点关注了空间核反应堆与静态能量转换、动态能量转换技术结合供电的研究进展,总结分析了空间核反应堆电源技术的发展特点,并指出未来发展中需要重点关注的内容,为未来空间核反应堆电源的发展提供指导。     

基于氢化镁的核电/核热双模共质空间核动力技术

针对未来空间任务对能源和动力日益提高的需求,提出了基于氢化镁的核电核热双模共质空间核动力技术。该技术以一种储氢密度高、热稳定性较好,能够以常温常压储存的氢化镁作为工质,通过核能加热后氢化镁分解成为核热推进可用的高压氢气和电推进可用的单质镁,并结合高效动态热电转换系统,形成大功率核电源、大功率超高比冲核电推进、高比冲氢气核热推进以及大推力镁核热推进多种工作模式。基于氢化镁的多模共质空间核动力技术解决了低温推进剂、气态工质在空间应用时的存储安全性和存储密度低的问题,其具备的多种工作模式能够针对不同任务需求提供相应的能源或者动力输出,提高核动力飞行器任务能力。     

Space nuclear power: technology, policy, and risk considerations in human missions to Mars

There is a large discrepancy between potential needs for nuclear propulsion and power systems for the human exploration of Mars and the current status of R&D funding, public opinion, and governmental support for these technologies. Mission planners and spacecraft designers, energized by the recent claims of possible discovery of life on Mars and responding to increased public interest in the human exploration of Mars, frequently propose nuclear reactors and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) for interplanetary spacecraft propulsion and for power supply on the surface of Mars. These plans and designs typically assume that reactors will be available "on-the-shelf," and do not take the extensive R&D costs required to develop such reactors into consideration. However, it is likely that current U.S. policies, if unchanged, will prohibit the launch of nuclear reactors and large RTGs in response to a perceived risk by the public.     

Nuclear space—an indispensable option?

There is renewed interest in using nuclear power in a variety of ways in space, as well as in disposing of terrestrial nuclear waste aloft. While the benefits of such use to space exploration might be high, the potential costs to Earth and its inhabitants are currently too dear. Accidents have already occurred which, despite official denials, have spread radiation worldwide. Such denials are characteristic of the closed and secretive nature of the nuclear ‘debate’. This viewpoint calls for the involvement of all those concerned with space nuclear power—lay, professional, government and NGO—in decisions on whether to proceed with it and suggests that maybe we should wait for safer scientific discoveries before we attempt further planetary exploration.     

100 kWe级空间快堆核电源系统仿真平台开发与应用

空间核反应堆电源作为一种具有竞争力的空间电源方案,正逐渐受到关注及应用。本文针对一个100 kWe级锂冷快堆耦合布雷顿循环的空间堆核动力系统方案,修改了RELAP5程序中的物性程序、换热模型,程序中的中子动力学模块使用蒙特卡洛方法计算快堆物理参数与堆芯控制调节参数,由此集成并建立一个空间快堆核动力系统综合仿真平台,应用该平台对100 kWe级空间堆核动力系统进行了稳态模拟与事故分析。结果表明:在瞬态发生后系统各参数变化符合预期,验证了各部件及控制系统的功能性及有效性;同时,还初步进行了仿真平台用于100 kWe级空间反应堆核动力系统设备的设计优化的实践,为空间快堆设计与安全分析提供了技术储备。     

Strategies of developing advanced lunar power systems

Electric and thermal power have to be available at the base site on the lunar surface before the first lunar crew arrives. Unlimited solar energy is available during the lunar day, but this must be stored for use during the lunar night unless nuclear energy systems are available. State-of-the-art candidate systems are reviewed and the production of solar cells on the moon is discussed. Various options for developing a lunar power plant are proposed. These must be simulated and optimized in a real life-cycle systems scenario to provide operations and cost data essential for choosing a strategy.     

Strategies of developing advanced lunar power systems

Electric and thermal power have to be available at the base site on the lunar surface before the first lunar crew arrives. Unlimited solar energy is available during the lunar day, but this must be stored for use during the lunar night unless nuclear energy systems are available. State-of-the-art candidate systems are reviewed and the production of solar cells on the moon is discussed. Various options for developing a lunar power plant are proposed. These must be simulated and optimized in a real lifecycle systems scenario to provide operations and cost data essential for choosing a strategy.     

模块化核动力航天器设计及其关键技术

为提高核动力航天器关键技术的可继承性与可扩展性,缩短核动力航天器研发周期,降低研发成本,本文通过总结国外核动力航天器发展现状,梳理核动力航天器研制特点,结合模块化航天器概念及设计原则,首次提出模块化核动力航天器概念。将核动力航天器分为核电源模块、平台中心模块、载荷模块3大独立模块,并针对体系架构设计提出3层建设方案,针对模块化核动力航天器梳理关键技术难点,为后续项目研究提供应用参考。     

100 kWe月面核电站方案研究

随着太空探索活动的深入开展,在月球表面建立有人基地成为必然选择。与常规化学能或太阳能相比,月面核电源具有诸多优点,是月球基地的最佳能源选择之一。本文提出了电功率100 kWe的核反应堆电源系统方案,给出了该方案的关键系统参数。针对反应堆模块,展开方案选型、参数优化、常规物理参数分析、初步热工分析和特种临界安全分析等工作。计算结果显示:燃料包壳温度小于使用限值,掉落事故工况下有效增值因数均小于0.98。该设计方案满足各项技术指标和设计准则。     

立方星电源系统最大功率点跟踪优化控制方法

针对立方星在能量来源严重受限条件下如何提高太阳能利用率的难题,提出一种适用于立方星的集中供电式空间微电源架构(EPS),并设计基于改进粒子群优化算法的最大功率点跟踪(MPPT)控制策略来提升能量转换效率。首先,推导太阳电池阵列的数学模型,并根据太阳电池阵列的工作特性,提出电源系统最大功率点跟踪控制的物理系统实现结构。其次,设计基于改进粒子群优化(PSO)的最大功率点跟踪控制算法,并进行了数学仿真校验。最后,对所设计的电源系统架构进行了硬件实现和试验验证。地面试验结果表明,电源系统的太阳能最大转换效率可达95.5%。该电源系统成功应用于世界首颗12U立方星“翱翔之星”的飞行试验,在轨数据表明电源系统工作状态良好,为微纳卫星电源系统的设计提供了有益参考。     

空间核反应堆安全分析

空间核反应堆是空间能源的重要候选方案,其寿命长、功率大、结构紧凑,但其特有的中子学特性、与传统快堆迥异的设计方案对堆芯安全分析提出了挑战。本文以热管型空间堆为例,首先基于蒙特卡洛方法对空间堆在水淹和沙埋事故工况下,进行了稳态中子学计算分析,结果表明:堆芯在事故工况下不会重返临界。同时,基于瞬态多物理分析程序TMACS,进行了单根控制鼓旋转瞬态过程计算。结果表明:空间堆在热工反馈和热膨胀反馈的多物理耦合下,在特定的瞬态过程中能够保持功率稳定,满足安全要求。     

如何加强行政事业单位的审计

行政事业单位行使着政府授予的行政管理权力,掌握着财政资金的收入分配。如何适应新形势,强化行政事业审计,有效促进行政事业单位的财政、财务收支行为规范化,是值得深思的问题。     

Space nuclear power and the UN: A growing fiasco

The work of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was intensified following the accidental re-entry of the Soviet Cosmos 954 nuclear-powered satellite in 1978. But anyone thinking the purpose of the Committee's activity was to prevent the recurrence of such an accident will have been disabused by the USA's recent repudiation of the guidelines for the safe use of nuclear power supplies. The UN is good for political manoeuvring, argues the author of this Viewpoint, but real progress towards the safer use of nuclear power in space will originate elsewhere.     

如何加强行政事业单位的审计

行政事业单位行使着政府授予的行政管理权力,掌握着财政资金的收入分配.如何适应新形势,强化行政事业审计,有效促进行政事业单位的财政、财务收支行为规范化,是值得深思的问题.     

加强廊坊城市文化软实力的研究

廊坊是一个新兴城市,目前发展的核心问题是如何加强城市的凝聚力和向心力,吸引人才并营造宜居和谐的社会氛围,打造独特的廊坊文化品牌。本文从廊坊市的自身条件出发,就如何加强廊坊城市文化软实力提出一些想法。     

关于太阳模拟器电源的理论和实践

文章回顾了太阳模拟器电源发展的三个阶段:碳弧灯和磁饱和电抗器阶段;氙灯和模拟量阶段;氙灯和数字量阶段.文章并阐述了KM6太阳模拟器电源的设计思路,详细地介绍了可选用元器件的优缺点,以及"PWM"变换器的选择.