NASA 1999 SBIR Phase I


PROPOSAL NUMBER 99-1 03.02-6016B (Chron: 992689 )

PROJECT TITLE

A Fissioning Plasma Core Reactor Powered MHD-MPD Propulsion System


TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

An advanced nuclear electric propulsion system based on gaseous and liquid droplet core reactor (GCR) with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power conversion is proposed. The energy of the partially ionized fissioning gas in GCR is directly coupled to the applied magnetic field of the MHD generator to achieve high conversion efficiency at high temperatures. The high operating temperature of the combined GCR-MHD power generation system provides a unique flexibility for weight and size reduction in heat rejection radiator, which are the most dominate part of such high power systems. For multimegawatt power operation, the system features core outlet temperatures of 3000 to 5000 K at pressures of about 10 to 100 atm, MHD temperatures of 2000 to 3000 K, and radiator temperatures of 1200 to 2500 K. This combination of parameters offers the potential for low total system specific mass in the range of .5 to 2.5 kg/KWe.


POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

Low cost space transportation for deployment asset in mid to far space orbits.


NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (Name, Organization Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

Travis Knight

New Era Technolgy, Inc. (NETECH)

2435 NW 36th Terrace

Gainesville , FL 32605 - 2633


NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

New Era Technology, Inc. (NETECH)

2435 NW 36th Terrace

Gainesville , FL 32605 - 2633