Bwx Technologies, Inc.

The Babcock & Wilcox Company

Other

Richard Vail DeMars

Barry Gene Miller

Kurt Ogg Westerman

Richard Lee Jetley

Billy E Bingham

Barry John Miles

A modular solar thermal rocket that receives and absorbs solar energy and then acts as a heat exchanger to provide propulsive thrust. Thermal energy storage modules receive and store solar energy via thermal energy storage elements provided in each module. The solar energy is focused into a cavity defined by the modules by a solar energy secondary concentrator. A preheater is positioned adjacent the solar energy secondary concentrator and is in fluid communication with a propellant supply and one end of the thermal energy storage modules. A propulsion nozzle is in fluid communication with the opposite end of the thermal energy storage modules. Stored propellant is directed through the preheater and the thermal energy storage modules where it is heated to a high temperature. The propellant is then directed to the propulsion nozzle where it is exhausted into space to provide propulsive thrust.

Solar thermal rocket

A thermal solar rocket that includes a solar energy receiver having two sections (a thermal energy storage section and a direct gain section), a solar concentrator, and a propulsion nozzle. In one embodiment, the focus of the solar energy between the storage section and the direct gain section is controlled by mechanical means such as movable insulation. In another embodiment, the focus of the solar energy between the storage section and the direct gain section is controlled by an optical switch in the form of relative motion between the solar concentrator and the solar energy receiver.

A solar thermal rocket that includes a thermal energy storage section, a radiant inter-heater, a primary solar concentrator, and a propulsion nozzle. The primary solar concentrator is selectively movable to direct solar energy to either the thermal energy storage section or to the radiant inter-heater. The thermal energy storage section, along with insulation, is arranged to define a cavity such that a focused beam of solar rays can enter the cavity through an aperture in the insulation. The thermal energy storage section typically absorbs and stores solar energy during the non-propulsion portion of the orbital period. The solar rays are captured and absorbed and thereby heat the thermal energy storage section to very high temperatures. A radiant inter-heater directly receives concentrated solar rays and transfers the heat to the propellant during the propulsion phase. The propellant heated by the inter-heater is directed through the thermal energy storage section where it is further heated to its peak temperature and then expelled through the nozzle to produce thrust. With the inter-heater, the rate of heat extraction from the thermal energy storage section is reduced, prolonging the period of peak propellant temperature, resulting in an overall higher average specific impulse.

A neutron flux control component for a nuclear reactor. Thin, overlapping segments of highly neutron absorbing material are positioned in the core of a reactor. The self-shielding overlapping segments are moved relative to each other to vary the amount of exposed surface area of poison to control core reactivity and to provide power shaping within the reactor core. The poison segments are mounted to carriers in the form of close-fitting concentric cylinders or rods of V-shaped cross section.

Nuclear reactivity control configuration

A particle bed fuel element designed to accommodate expansion and contraction within the particle fuel bed. Porous inner and outer frits connected together by an end cap at a first end and radially guided by a shoulder at a second end receive fuel particles in the annulus formed therebetween. Compressive devices at each end of the frits and within the fuel bed maintain packing force to prevent looseness during contraction and allow expansion without excessive pressure being placed on the fuel particles. Pairs of beleville springs, wave springs, and pressurized thin-walled metal donuts may be used as the compressive devices.

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Lynchburg, VA, United States of America

Richard Vail DeMars