裂变碎片火箭发动机的蒙特卡罗模拟研究

Monte Carlo Simulation of Fission Fragment Rocket Engine

  • 摘要: 2005年,美国Grassmere动力公司提出了一新型的空间推进概念——基于尘埃等离子体的裂变碎片火箭发动机(FFRE),NASA的NIAC项目2011年支持了这一概念的研究。其设计将裂变反应堆置于磁镜装置中,堆芯为磁约束的含铀尘埃等离子体,尘埃颗粒为半径100 nm,高速裂变碎片从堆芯中逃逸,反冲产生推力,比冲理论上可达几百万s。本文将详细讨论FFRE中的物理过程,基于蒙特卡罗方法的MCNP和SRIM程序,模拟计算反应堆临界质量和裂变碎片的输运过程;基于热峰模型,计算尘埃颗粒温度的变化。反应堆设计的优化结果是使用氧化铍作反射层,氧化锎尘埃等离子体作核燃料,受磁场约束,碎片逃逸率可超过60%。

     

    Abstract: The fission fragment rocket engine (FFRE) that is a new novel concept of space propulsion was present by Grassmere Dynamics LLC, USA in 2005. The NIAC program of NASA was instrumental in nurturing this concept. The fissile dust plasma of nanoscale was designed in fission reactor. The charged fission fragments with high energy escape from the magnetic field resulting in thrust and specific impulse of million seconds. The physics process in the FFRE was studied, the critical mass and fission fragments transport were calculated and simulated by the transport Monte Carlo program MCNP and SRIM, and the temperature of dust was calculated with thermal spike model. The optimal design is the reactor with californium dust plasma and beryllium reflector in constraint magnetic field, and the escape rate will be more than 60%.

     

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