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Research Proposals or Synopsis | Aerospace Engineering | India | Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014

Nuclear Propulsion Development Plan

Rahul Munagala

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to find alternative methods of propulsion. A nuclear fission incorporated engines can be installed in aerial vehicles. With this we could achieve higher Mach velocities and highly efficiency. This Nuclear Power can be produced by innovative methods such as nuclear thermal engine and fission fragmented rocket engine. Liquid hydrogen can be used as working fluid which will be heated to high temperatures and thereby expanded through a converging nozzle leading to thrust production in nuclear thermal engine. The Fission fragmented rocket engine (FFRE) design can directly harnesses nuclear fission products for thrust; which are normally trapped inside a reactor; as opposed instead of using a separate fluid as working mass. This design allows the heavy fission products to escape from the reactor; traveling at up to 5 % of light speed theoretically producing thrust at over 200 times better than electric engines. Electricity needs of the aerial vehicle can also be met through nuclear power whereby using a fraction of heat generated by fission in combination with thermoelectric and thermionic generators.

Keywords: Nuclear Propulsion, Nuclear reactor, Alternate form of propulsion, Electricity generation, Hypersonic rockets

Edition: Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2014,

Pages: 409 - 412