• 항공우주기술
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 2012

발사체에서 요구되는 고추력을 생성하기 위해서는 고추력 엔진 1기 혹은 낮은 추력의 엔진 여러 기를 클러스터링하는 방법을 사용한다. 각각의 장단점이 있지만, 발사체를 구성하는 시점에서 가용한 엔진 혹은 개발 가능한 엔진을 사용하여 요구 추력을 생성하게 된다. 한국형발사체의 1단 추진기관 시스템에 요구되는 추력은 300톤급으로 단일 엔진 시스템으로 구성하기에는 현 수준에선 무리가 있다고 판단되어 75톤급 액체 엔진 4기를 클러스터링하여 구성한다. 본 자료에서는 한국형발사체의 1단 클러스터드 엔진 배치에 대한 개념에 대해 다룬다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제47권6호
• /
• pp.678-699
• /
• 2015

Although the harsh space environment imposes many severe challenges to space pioneers, space exploration is a realistic and profitable goal for long-term humanity survival. One of the viable and promising options to overcome the harsh environment of space is nuclear propulsion. Particularly, the Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) is a leading candidate for nearterm human missions to Mars and beyond due to its relatively high thrust and efficiency. Traditional NTR designs use typically high power reactors with fast or epithermal neutron spectrums to simplify core design and to maximize thrust. In parallel there are a series of new NTR designs with lower thrust and higher efficiency, designed to enhance mission versatility and safety through the use of redundant engines (when used in a clustered engine arrangement) for future commercialization. This paper proposes a new NTR design of the second design philosophy, Korea Advanced NUclear Thermal Engine Rocket (KANUTER), for future space applications. The KANUTER consists of an Extremely High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (EHTGR) utilizing hydrogen propellant, a propulsion system, and an optional electricity generation system to provide propulsion as well as electricity generation. The innovatively small engine has the characteristics of high efficiency, being compact and lightweight, and bimodal capability. The notable characteristics result from the moderated EHTGR design, uniquely utilizing the integrated fuel element with an ultra heat-resistant carbide fuel, an efficient metal hydride moderator, protectively cooling channels and an individual pressure tube in an all-in-one package. The EHTGR can be bimodally operated in a propulsion mode of $100MW_{th}$ and an electricity generation mode of $100MW_{th}$, equipped with a dynamic energy conversion system. To investigate the design features of the new reactor and to estimate referential engine performance, a preliminary design study in terms of neutronics and thermohydraulics was carried out. The result indicates that the innovative design has great potential for high propellant efficiency and thrust-to-weight of engine ratio, compared with the existing NTR designs. However, the build-up of fission products in fuel has a significant impact on the bimodal operation of the moderated reactor such as xenon-induced dead time. This issue can be overcome by building in excess reactivity and control margin for the reactor design.