CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Advanced Search
Home > Proceedings > Volume 11755 > Article
Paper
12 April 2021 An exploratory study for the use of used nuclear fuel in ion thrusters
Chadi Temsamani, Mohammed Mandil, Osama Osman, Bassam A. Khuwaileh, Mohammad A. AlShabi, Mamdouh El Haj Assad
Author Affiliations +
Proceedings Volume 11755, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XIV; 117550R (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2587274
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2021, Online Only
Abstract
Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) management is one of the major challenges in the nuclear power field. Several disposals, reprocessing and recycling techniques and concepts are proposed and implemented, however, the associated challenges have not been completely resolved yet. Therefore, in this work another useful application of SNF in space applications is explored. The overarching goal of this work is to explore the possibility of using nuclear spent fuel in the so-called ion-thrusters. The proposed design consists of a jet engine that utilizes the extraordinary radioactivity from SNF to ionize a propellant that is used as the thrust. A preliminary basic design is proposed and then evaluated based on simulation predictions. MCNP is used to model a simplified design of the proposed Spent Nuclear Fuel Ion Propulsion Engine (SNIP) and estimate the ionization reaction rate and therefore the thrust exit velocity and specific impulse of the thruster.
© (2021) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Citation Download Citation
Chadi Temsamani, Mohammed Mandil, Osama Osman, Bassam A. Khuwaileh, Mohammad A. AlShabi, and Mamdouh El Haj Assad "An exploratory study for the use of used nuclear fuel in ion thrusters", Proc. SPIE 11755, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XIV, 117550R (12 April 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2587274
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
ORGANIZATIONAL
Sign in with credentials provided by your organization.
INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION
PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.
PERSONAL SIGN IN
No SPIE Account? Create one
PURCHASE THIS CONTENT
SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY
50 downloads per 1-year subscription
Members: $195
Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART
25 downloads per 1 - year subscription
Members: $145
Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART
PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE
Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available
Members: $17.00
Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART
PROCEEDINGS
 7 PAGES
DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY
GET CITATION
Advertisement
Advertisement
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission  Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace
KEYWORDS
Ions
Ionization
RELATED CONTENT
Subscribe to Digital Library
Receive Erratum Email Alert
Back to Top