Status of Fuel Development and Manufacturing for Space Nuclear Reactors at BWX Technologies

• Main Authors: Carmack, W.J., Husser, D.L., Mohr, T.C., Richardson, W.C.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; MACHINING; MANUFACTURING; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; NIOBIUM; NUCLEAR FUELS; NUCLEAR POWER; NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS; PROPULSION SYSTEMS; REACTOR CORES; SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS; SPACE VEHICLES; SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; URANIUM NITRIDES; WELDING
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.1649602

New advanced nuclear space propulsion systems will soon seek a high temperature, stable fuel form. BWX Technologies Inc (BWXT) has a long history of fuel manufacturing. UO2, UCO, and UCx have been fabricated at BWXT for various US and international programs. Recent efforts at BWXT have focused on establishing the manufacturing techniques and analysis capabilities needed to provide a high quality, high power, compact nuclear reactor for use in space nuclear powered missions. To support the production of a space nuclear reactor, uranium nitride has recently been manufactured by BWXT. In addition, analytical chemistry and analysis techniques have been developed to provide verification and qualification of the uranium nitride production process. The fabrication of a space nuclear reactor will require the ability to place an unclad fuel form into a clad structure for assembly into a reactor core configuration. To this end, BWX Technologies has reestablished its capability for machining, GTA welding, and EB welding of refractory metals. Specifically, BWX Technologies has demonstrated GTA welding of niobium flat plate and EB welding of niobium and Nb-1Zr tubing. In performing these demonstration activities, BWX Technologies has established the necessary infrastructure to manufacture UO2, UCx, or UNx fuel, components, and complete reactor assemblies in support of space nuclear programs.