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Active Project (2012 - 2014) Direct Energy Conversion For Nuclear Propulsion At Low Specific Mass Project Center Innovation Fund: JSC CIF (Also Includes JSC IRAD) Program N/A ( ) At Start: 3 Current: 3 At End: 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Applied Research Development Demo & Test TWDEC Test Article at NASA Johnson Space Center Project Technology Maturity ABSTRACT The project will continue the FY13 JSC IR&D (October-2012 to September-2013) effort in Travelling Wave Direct Energy Conversion (TWDEC) in order to demonstrate its potential as the core of a high potential, game-changing, in-space propulsion technology. The TWDEC concept converts particle beam energy into radio frequency (RF) alternating current electrical power, such as can be used to heat the propellant in a plasma thruster. In a more advanced concept (explored in the Phase 1 NIAC project), the TWDEC could also be utilized to condition the particle beam such that it may ...Read more on the last page. Technology Area: Space Power & Energy Storage TA03 (Primary) In-Space Propulsion Technologies TA02 (Secondary) ANTICIPATED BENEFITS To NASA unfunded & planned missions: With successful development of this system by NASA and its partners, an intermediate NASA infusion step would demonstrate megawatt-class aneutronic fusion (p-11B fusion), TWDEC, and electric propulsion (e.g., Quantum Vacuum thruster, VASIMR) systems on robotic missions into deep space. Human vehicle system development would then integrate such systems into the “ultimate” NASA application: sustainable, routine human exploration of Mars and, with successful Q-thruster development, ... Read more on the last page. Printed 4/17/2014 1 https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140004802 2020-07-29T10:07:49+00:00Z

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Page 1: Direct Energy Conversion For Nuclear Propulsion At … › archive › nasa › casi.ntrs.nasa.gov › ...propulsion technology. The TWDEC concept converts particle beam energy into

ActiveProject(2012-2014)

DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProjectCenterInnovationFund:JSCCIF(AlsoIncludesJSCIRAD)ProgramN/A()

AtStart:3 Current:3 AtEnd:4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

AppliedResearch Development Demo&Test

TWDECTestArticleatNASAJohnsonSpaceCenter

ProjectTechnologyMaturity

ABSTRACT

TheprojectwillcontinuetheFY13JSCIR&D(October-2012toSeptember-2013)

effortinTravellingWaveDirectEnergyConversion(TWDEC)inorderto

demonstrateitspotentialasthecoreofahighpotential,game-changing,in-space

propulsiontechnology.TheTWDECconceptconvertsparticlebeamenergyinto

radiofrequency(RF)alternatingcurrentelectricalpower,suchascanbeusedto

heatthepropellantinaplasmathruster.Inamoreadvancedconcept(exploredin

thePhase1NIACproject),theTWDECcouldalsobeutilizedtoconditionthe

particlebeamsuchthatitmay...Readmoreonthelastpage.

TechnologyArea: SpacePower&EnergyStorageTA03(Primary)In-SpacePropulsionTechnologiesTA02(Secondary)

ANTICIPATEDBENEFITS

ToNASAunfunded&plannedmissions:WithsuccessfuldevelopmentofthissystembyNASAanditspartners,anintermediate

NASAinfusionstepwoulddemonstratemegawatt-classaneutronicfusion(p-11Bfusion),

TWDEC,andelectricpropulsion(e.g.,QuantumVacuumthruster,VASIMR)systemson

roboticmissionsintodeepspace.Humanvehiclesystemdevelopmentwouldthen

integratesuchsystemsintothe“ultimate”NASAapplication:sustainable,routinehuman

explorationofMarsand,withsuccessfulQ-thrusterdevelopment,...

Readmoreonthelastpage.

Printed4/17/2014 1

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140004802 2020-07-29T10:07:49+00:00Z

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Contributing

Partners

U.S.Navy

UniversityofIllinois

ShellUSA

(moreonlastpage)

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION

Lowspecificmass(<3kg/kW)in-spaceelectricpowerandpropulsioncandrasticallyalterthe

paradigmforexplorationoftheSolarSystem,changinghumanMarsexplorationfroma3-year

epiceventtoanannualexpedition.Aspecificmassof~1kg/kWcanenable1-yearround-tripsto

Mars,regardlessofalignment,withthesamelaunchmasstolowEarthorbit(350mT)estimatedby

theMarsArchitecture5.0studyfora3-yearconjunctionmission.Keytoachievingsucha

propulsioncapabilityistheabilitytoconvert,athighefficiencyandwithonlyminimallosses

rejectedasheatviaradiators,theenergyofchargedparticlereactionproductsoriginatingfroman

advancedfissionoraneutronicfusionsourcedirectlyintoelectricityconditionedasrequiredto

poweranelectricthruster.TheTWDECconceptaccomplishesthisbyconvertingparticlebeam

energyintoradiofrequency(RF)alternatingcurrentelectricalpower,suchascanbeused...

DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

OtherOrganizations

PerformingWork

ElectricPowerResearch

Institute

MANAGEMENT

ProgramExecutive:JohnFalker

ProgramManager:RonaldClayton

ProjectManager:JohnScott

PrincipalInvestigator:JohnScott

Co-Investigator:AlfonsoTarditi

Printed4/17/2014 2

U.S.stateswithwork

Leadcenter:JohnsonSpaceCenter

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION(CONT'D)

toheatthepropellantinaplasmathruster.

Theprojectiscoretothedevelopmentofmulti-MWpowerforelectricpropulsion.Thetechnologydevelopedwill

enablehighpowersystemswhichhavespecificmassinthelowsingle-digitsandwhicharesun-independent,

requirenoneutronshielding,andproducenoradioactivewaste.Thepowerlevelsandspecificmassthis

technologycouldprovidewill,whencombinedwitheitherhigh-efficiencyQ-thrustersorVASIMR-classplasma

thrusters,enablerapidhumanmissionstoMarsandbeyond.

ProjectInfusionPath:

Lowspecificmass(a–kg/kWe)in-spaceelectricpowerandpropulsioncandrasticallyaltertheparadigmfor

explorationoftheSolarSystem,changinghumanMarsexplorationfroma3-yearepiceventtoanannual

expedition.Anaof~1kg/kWecanenable1-yearround-tripstoMars,regardlessofopportunity,withthesame

launchmasstolowEarthorbit(350mT)estimatedbytheMarsArchitecture5.0studyfora3-yearconjunction

mission.Keytoachievingsuchapropulsioncapabilityistheabilitytoconvert,athighefficiencyandwithonly

minimallossesrejectedasheatviaradiators,theenergyofchargedparticlereactionproductsoriginatingfroman

aneutronicfusionsourcedirectlyintoelectricityconditionedasrequiredtopoweranelectricthruster.TheTWDEC

concept(originallyconceivedinJapaninthe1990’sforterrestrialfusionapplications)accomplishesthisby

convertingparticlebeamenergyintoradiofrequency(RF)alternatingcurrentelectricalpower,suchascanbeused

toheatthepropellantinaVASIMR-classplasmathruster.Inamoreadvancedconcept(exploredina2012Phase1

NIACproject),theTWDECcouldalsobeutilizedtoconditiontheparticlebeamsuchthatitmaytransferdirected

kineticenergytoatargetpropellantplasmaforthepurposeofincreasingthrustandoptimizingthespecificimpulse.

Whileothergovernmentagenciesand/orindustrypartnersarepursuinganeutronicfusionreactorsandplasma

propulsion,NASAJSCistheonlyentityadvancingthiscoreenergyconversiontechnology(Fig.3).

WithsuccessfuldevelopmentofthissystembyNASAanditspartners,anintermediateNASAinfusionstepwould

demonstratemegawatt-classaneutronicfusion,TWDEC,andelectricpropulsion(e.g.,Q-thruster,VASIMR)systems

onroboticmissionstotheJovianmoons.Humanvehiclesystemdevelopmentwouldthenintegratesuchsystems

intothe“ultimate”NASAapplication:sustainable,routinehumanexplorationofMarsand,withsuccessfulQ-

thrusterdevelopment,beyond.

Printed4/17/2014 3

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

TECHNOLOGYDETAILS

AtStart:3 Current:3 AtEnd:4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

AppliedResearch

Development Demo&Test

DirectEnergyConversion

forNuclearPropulsionat

LowSpecificMass

TechnologyMaturity

TECHNOLOGYDESCRIPTION

Lowspecificmass(<3kg/kW)in-spaceelectricpowerandpropulsioncandrasticallyalterthe

paradigmforexplorationoftheSolarSystem,changinghumanMarsexplorationfroma3-year

epiceventtoanannualexpedition.Aspecificmassof~1kg/kWcanenable1-yearround-tripsto

Mars,regardlessofalignment,withthesamelaunchmasstolowEarthorbit(350mT)estimatedby

theMarsArchitecture5.0studyfora3-yearconjunctionmission.Keytoachievingsucha

propulsioncapabilityistheabilitytoconvert,athighefficiencyandwithonlyminimallosses

rejectedasheatviaradiators,theenergyofchargedparticlereactionproductsoriginatingfroman

advancedfissionoraneutronicfusionsourcedirectlyintoelectricityconditionedasrequiredto

poweranelectricthruster.TheTWDECconceptaccomplishesthisbyconvertingparticlebeam

energyintoradiofrequency(RF)alternatingcurrentelectricalpower,suchascanbeusedtoheat

thepropellantinaplasmathruster.

Thistechnologyiscategorizedasahardwaresubsystemforgroundscientificresearchoranalysis

TechnologyArea

TA03SpacePower&EnergyStorage(Primary)

TA02In-SpacePropulsionTechnologies(Secondary)

TechnicalMerit:TheTWDECmayofferanewparadigmforhumanexplorationoftheSolar

Systemthroughharnessingnuclearfissionandaneutronicfusionenergyatapowerlevelhigh

enoughandspecificmasslowenoughtoenableround-tripstoMarsofdurationunderoneyear.

Thisprojectwillexaminekeysystemintegrationassumptionsandrigorouslyassessthedegreeto

whichTWDECtechnologyatthecurrentstate-of-the-artcanbeoptimizedforspacecraftpower

applications.

InFY'14thefollowingObjectiveswillbemet;

ActivateJSCTWDECbreadboardtestarticle.ConductvalidationofTWDECsimulation

completedinFY13toraiseTWDECtechnologytoTRL...

PerformanceMetrics

Metric Unit Quantity

in-spacepowersystemspecificmass kg/kWe 1to3

Printed4/17/2014 4

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

TECHNOLOGYDETAILS

CAPABILITIESPROVIDED(CONT'D)4.

Buildspecificmassmodels,includingradiationshielding,ofTWDEC-FusionandTWDEC-Fissionpower

systemsforuseintrajectoryassessmentswithCOPERNICUSanalysistools.

Assesstheimpactofthelowspecific-massspacepropulsionenabledbyTWDEConMarshumanexploration

architectures.

POTENTIALAPPLICATIONSIn-SpacePropulsion,

GreenPowerforTerrestrialenergyneeds.

Printed4/17/2014 5

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

IMAGEGALLERY

12110-1376090270324.jpg

NASAJSCTWDECTestArticle2014

Printed4/17/2014 6

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

ABSTRACT(CONTINUEDFROMPAGE1)

transferdirectedkineticenergytoatargetpropellantplasmaforthepurposeofincreasingthrustandoptimizingthe

specificimpulse.

TheoverallscopeoftheFY13first-yeareffortwastobuildonboththe2012Phase1NIACresearchandthe

analysisandtestresultsproducedbyJapaneseresearchersoverthepasttwentyyearstoassessthepotentialfor

spacecraftpropulsionapplications.TheprimaryobjectiveoftheFY13effortwastocreateparticle-in-cellcomputer

simulationsofaTWDEC.OtherobjectivesincludedconstructionofabreadboardTWDECtestarticle,preliminary

testcalibrationofthesimulations,andconstructionoffirstorderpowersystemmodelstofeedintomission

architectureanalyseswithCOPERNICUStools.DuetofundingcutsresultingfromtheFY13sequestration,onlythe

computersimulationsandassemblyofthebreadboardtestarticlewerecompleted.Thesimulations,however,areof

unprecedentedflexibilityandprecisionandwerepresentedatthe2013AIAAJointPropulsionConference.Also,

theassembledtestarticlewillprovideanioncurrentdensitytwoordersofmagnitudeabovethatavailablein

previousJapaneseexperiments,thusenablingthefirstdirectmeasurementsofpowergenerationfroma

TWDECforFY14.TheproposedFY14effortwillusethetestarticleforexperimentalvalidationofthecomputer

simulationsandthuscompletetoagreaterfidelitythemissionanalysisproductsoriginallyconceivedforFY13.

ThepreviousFY13effortfocusedoncomputersimulationsofTWDECphysicstobuildengineeringtoolswithwhich

todesignvehiclesystemsaroundTWDECpower.TheFY13projectalsosupportedinitialbuild-upofabench-top

systemforexperimentalvalidationoftheTWDECsimulationsdeveloped.

Printed4/17/2014 7

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

ANTICIPATEDBENEFITS

ToNASAunfunded&plannedmissions:(CONT'D)beyond.

FY'14Project-DevelopmentandimplementationofthistechnologywillbeindirectsupporttoOCT’sGrand

ChallengeforAccesstoSpace.Futureinfusionofthistechnologyintohumanandroboticexplorationmission

architectureswillbeidentifiedbytheHumanArchitectureTeamandtheMarsProgramPlanningGroup(MPPG).

ThistechnologywillenableanewclassofmissionsforhumanexplorationoftheSolarSystem.

Toothergovernmentagencies:Green,highdensity,energyfromthistechnologywouldsupportthemissionsoftheDepartmentofEnergyandofthe

DepartmentofDefense.

Tothecommercialspaceindustry:DevelopmentoftheTWDECwillsupporteffortsbytheDepartmentofEnergyandDepartmentofDefensetodevelop

aneutronicfusionreactors.

Tothenation:Successfuldevelopmentofthecompletepowersystemcouldenableterrestrial,highcapacityfactor,electricpower

generationthatproducesneithercarbonemissionsnornuclearwaste.Thereisofspecialinteresttotheutility

industryintheprivatesector.

Printed4/17/2014 8

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DirectEnergyConversionForNuclearPropulsionAtLowSpecificMassProject

CONTRIBUTINGPARTNERS(CONT'D)

UniversityofMaryland

Printed4/17/2014 9


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