NUCLEAR ROCKET

ENGINE

BY,
MAGESH KUMAR S
 INTRODUCTION
 Nuclear rocket system include Nuclear thermal propulsion (“NTP”) systems, nuclear
electric propulsion (“NEP”) systems, hybrid NTP/NEP concepts and nuclear pulse
rockets that are propelled by the force of nuclear explosions.
 Provide thrust through heating of liquid hydrogen propellant by nuclear fission.
 Several designs of nuclear thermal rockets solid, liquid and gas core nuclear rockets.
 Solid core nuclear rockets operate by pumping the liquid hydrogen propellant through
narrow channels in a solid nuclear reactor.
 As liquid hydrogen moves through the channels, it is heated by the reactor into a high
temperature gas and then ejected from the exhaust nozzle of the rocket at high speeds.
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
 WORKING PRINCIPLE

 Stored H2 drawn through pump.

 Supplied to secondary reactor components.
 Extraction of heat from nuclear reactor.
 H2 flows primary fuel zone of reactor core.
 Exhaust through nozzle.
 TYPES OF NUCLEAR ROCKET ENGINE

 Solid Core
 Pulsed Nuclear Thermal Rocket
 Liquid Core
 Gas Core
ADVANTAGE
 High Isp (2-10% that of chemical system)

 Low Specific Mass (kg/KW)

 High Power allows high thrust

 Use of any propellant

 Reduced radiation for some missions.

DISADVANTAGE
 Social issues
 Low technology readiness level (Maturity)
 Radiation issues (Shielding)
 High Reactor development cost
APPLICATIONS

 Nuclear propulsion in rockets

 Nuclear propulsion in submarines
 Nuclear propulsion in car engine (Ford)
RECENT INNOVATION

 The UK company Applied Fusion Systems are currently filing a

patent for a new nuclear fusion rocket engine, creating by turning
a small fusion reactor into a rocket.
 This technology could be used to run from a compact nuclear
fusion reactor, a development which could pave the way for high
speed, interstellar space travel.