Closed cycle MHD power generation system driven by nuclear reactor for space exploration
For deep space explorations, we have to develop high-efficiency, high-reliability and high-performance electric power generation system. In this paper, a closed cycle magnetohydrodynamic (CCMHD) power generation system directly driven by a nuclear fission reactor (NFR) was proposed and investigated. Output electric power level is multi-MWe. Particularly, influence of the number of compressor stages, the regenerator efficiency and the radiator temperature on total plant efficiency and on specific mass (kg/kWe) was analyzed. Proposed system was expected to provide over 55% of total plant efficiency with the radiator temperature of 300 K. The estimated specific mass was about 2/spl sim/3 (kg/kWe) for 2 MWe output and 1/spl sim/2 (kg/kWe) for output power over 3 MWe level.
Mission Steering Profiles of Outer Planetary Orbiters Using Radioisotope Electric Propulsion
Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) has the potential to enable small spacecraft to orbit outer planetary targets with trip times comparable to flyby missions. The ability to transition from a flyby to an orbiter mission lies in the availability of continuous low power electric propulsion along the entire trajectory. The electric propulsion system’s role is to add and remove energy from the spacecraft’s trajectory to bring it in and out of a heliocentric hyperbolic escape trajectory for the outermost target bodies. Energy is added and the trajectory is reshaped to rendezvous with the closer‐in target bodies. Sample REP trajectories will be presented for missions ranging for distances from Jupiter orbit to the Pluto‐Kuiper Belt.
CMEOC—An expert system in the coal mining industry
Abstract This paper introduces an expert system in the mining industry, called the Coal Mining Expert and Optimization Consultation System (CMEOC). The paper mainly describes the architecture of this system, including the knowledge base, inference engine, and relevant optimization techniques. The techniques include multi-objective programming, fuzzy sets, and integer programming. The application results present evidence of the usefulness of the system.