Computational Analysis Of Physical Neutronics Properties Of SP-100 Space Reactor Design

Space nuclear reactor can solve several problems restricting the application of traditional solar and chemical power supply in the space environment,and is the ideal power supply for space flight which can meet the demand of deep space detector power supply.The research of space reactor power supply will effectively influence the development of aviation industry,drive the progress of space technology,enhance China's ability to enter space and utilize space,which has important economic and social benefits.This paper completes the neutronic calculation and analysis for the SP-100 space reactor design.In this paper,the neutron transport code based on the deterministic method HELIOS and the 3D core simulator PARCS are used for the modelisation,simulation and calculation of the SP-100 space reactor.The design of the SP-100 space reactor meets the safety requirements in the neutronics field.The burnup test also shows that the mission lifetime of the SP-100 space reactor can meet 7 years(6 years at full power),which barely meet the standard of the SP-100 space reactor design.In 2006,the Prometheus Reactor Module Report of NASA analyzes the deficiency of the cladding material PWC-11 of SP-100 space reactor from the Materials Physics point of view,and put forward the Ta and Nb-based alloy as a substitute,listing the FS-85,Ta-10 W and ASTAR811 C alloys.After simulation and calculation research,this paper analyzes the substitute alloys from the Reactor Physics point of view.Combined with Prometheus plan in materials analysis,PWC-11 is still the best cladding material,FS-85 has a good performance as a substitute,however,the performance of the Ta-10 W and ASTAR811 C in burnup test makes it difficult to become a substitute for the cladding material.The research of this paper provides an important reference basis for the design,safety analysis and mission lifetime analysis of SP-100 space nuclear reactor,which is of some significance to the application and development of space nuclear reactor,and also has reference value for the simulation and calculation of neutron transport in other nuclear fields.