Radial in-flow particle bed nuclear rocket engine and method
US12410766B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2023 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF05D2260/20
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nuclear engine system includes: a pump configured to pump a propellant; a fuel element including a set of nuclear fuel particles; a moderator configured to surround the fuel element and defining a set of moderator coolant channels configured to cool the moderator; a reflector including a neutron-reflecting material and a reflector coolant channel arranged within the reflector to cool the reflector, the reflector configured to at a first time, operate in a closed configuration to reflect neutrons to the fuel element to increase an energy flux, and at a second time, operate in an open configured to leak neutrons out of the engine system to decrease the energy flux; and a thrust nozzle configured to outlet propellant from the fuel element to produce thrust including a nozzle coolant channel arranged within a wall of the thrust nozzle configured to cool the nozzle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.