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Nuclear Engine System Simulation (NESS). Volume 1: Program user's guideA Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) engine system design analysis tool is required to support current and future Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) propulsion and vehicle design studies. Currently available NTP engine design models are those developed during the NERVA program in the 1960's and early 1970's and are highly unique to that design or are modifications of current liquid propulsion system design models. To date, NTP engine-based liquid design models lack integrated design of key NTP engine design features in the areas of reactor, shielding, multi-propellant capability, and multi-redundant pump feed fuel systems. Additionally, since the SEI effort is in the initial development stage, a robust, verified NTP analysis design tool could be of great use to the community. This effort developed an NTP engine system design analysis program (tool), known as the Nuclear Engine System Simulation (NESS) program, to support ongoing and future engine system and stage design study efforts. In this effort, Science Applications International Corporation's (SAIC) NTP version of the Expanded Liquid Engine Simulation (ELES) program was modified extensively to include Westinghouse Electric Corporation's near-term solid-core reactor design model. The ELES program has extensive capability to conduct preliminary system design analysis of liquid rocket systems and vehicles. The program is modular in nature and is versatile in terms of modeling state-of-the-art component and system options as discussed. The Westinghouse reactor design model, which was integrated in the NESS program, is based on the near-term solid-core ENABLER NTP reactor design concept. This program is now capable of accurately modeling (characterizing) a complete near-term solid-core NTP engine system in great detail, for a number of design options, in an efficient manner. The following discussion summarizes the overall analysis methodology, key assumptions, and capabilities associated with the NESS presents an example problem, and compares the results to related NTP engine system designs. Initial installation instructions and program disks are in Volume 2 of the NESS Program User's Guide.
Document ID
19930014687
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Pelaccio, Dennis G. (Science Applications International Corp. Torrance, CA., United States)
Scheil, Christine M. (Science Applications International Corp. Torrance, CA., United States)
Petrosky, Lyman J. (Science Applications International Corp. Torrance, CA., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1993
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:191080
NASA-CR-191080
E-7622
Accession Number
93N23876
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 593-71-00
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-25809
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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