NASA KRUSTY nuclear reactor - photo

NASA's Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) prototype fission reactor for space travel. The reactor uses uranium-235 to generate heat that is carried to the Stirling converters with passive sodium heat pipes.

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h..._generator.jpg


More:

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/kilopower


Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...960#post144803
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...978#post137684
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...066#post129981

I'm just wondering what it's used for. A sterling engine(s) still can't paddle a spacecraft around the solar system. Or would it be for generating electricity? Hydraulics, or any kind of powered mechanical movement? When solar panels just won't cut it.

I saw this and contacted NASA to insist that they change the name because I had a prior claim and they told me to go pound silicate minerals. :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scotsman Hosie

I'm just wondering what it's used for. A sterling engine(s) still can't paddle a spacecraft around the solar system. Or would it be for generating electricity? Hydraulics, or any kind of powered mechanical movement? When solar panels just won't cut it.

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Solar cells become useless for spacecraft that get far from the sun so reactors are used. The Stirling (note spelling) engines provide a simple way to convert the heat from the atomic pile into mechanical motion to drive a generator. Efficiency is high because the coldness of space provides a large temperature differential for the engines - see Carnot's theorem...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnot...hermodynamics)

I'd guess that heat from the reactor also is used to maintain the equipment at more normal operating temperatures in the intensely cold environment of space.