Preliminary Physics Analysis of Space Gas-cooled Nuclear Reactor

In order to satisfy the large electricity and light payload need for future space missions, a sub-megawatt-class space gas-cooled nuclear reactor design was proposed based on the American and Russian space gas-cooled nuclear reactor design. Reactivity and neutron flux distribution characteristics of the reactor under some typical conditions were calculated using Monte Carlo code. It is indicated that the operation and safety requirements of the preliminary reactor design can be satisfied. The reactor has the ability to be shut down properly when necessary and remain sub-critical under water flooding scenarios for safety insurance. Additionally, it can be concluded from the power profile results that the radial power distribution can be flattened by adding neutron absorption materials.