The liquid annular reactor system (LARS) propulsion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A new concept for very high specific impulse (≳2000 seconds) direct nuclear propulsion is described. The concept, termed LARS (Liquid Annular Reactor System) uses liquid nuclear fuel elements to heat hydrogen propellant to very high temperatures (∼6000 K). Operating pressure is moderate (∼10 atm), with the result that the outlet hydrogen is virtually 100% dissociated to monatomic H. The molten fuel is contained in a solid container of its own material, which is rotated to stabilize the liquid layer by centripetal force. LARS reactor designs are described, together with neutronic and thermal‐hydraulic analyses. Power levels are on the order of 200 megawatts. Typically, LARS designs use 7 rotating fuel elements, are beryllium moderated and have critical radii of ∼100 cm (core L/D≊1.5).

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: