| Article title | «An analytical review of the concepts of a nuclear power plant for the permanent lunar base» |
| Authors | Dragunov Yuriy Grigor’Evich, Romadovaelena Leonardovna, Uzhanovavalentina Vasil’Evna, Gabaraevboris Arcent’Evich, Belyakovmikhail Sergeevich, Seliverstovmikhail Mikhaylovich, Proskuryakovsergey Fedorovich |
| Abstract | In terms of the neutron spectrum, fast-neutron reactors prevail in the range of the proposed concepts. Uranium dioxide, uranium nitride and uranium carbonitride are considered as the nuclear fuel materials. Some concepts use a eutectic sodium-potassium alloy or a binary helium and xenon mixture for the core cooling. The recommended structural materials are stainless steels (for moderately high coolant working temperatures of <900 K) and superalloys like niobium-, tantalum- or molybdenum-containing alloys (for higher temperatures). During a meeting at NASA, a system with the reactor in which the coolant, the fuel and the structural material are respectively an eutectic sodium-potassium alloy, uranium dioxide and stainless steel, was selected as the Preliminary Reference Concept (PRC) of the NPP based on the ideology of “affordable (feasible) ” design, that is, preference at the early stage was given to the most promoted technologies. This concept uses a Stirling converter, still Brayton converter is considered as a backup conversion option in case of higher power levels. |
| Keywords | permanent lunar base, nuclear power plant, fast reactors, nuclear fuel, uranium dioxide, uranium nitride, uranium carbonitride, coolant, eutectic sodium-potassium alloy, helium-xenon mixture, structural materials, stainless steel, superalloys, stirling converter, brayton converter |
| UDC | 621.039.52 |
| Issue | «ENGINEERING AND AUTOMATION PROBLEMS» №4, 2013 |
