Difference between revisions of "Nuclear power"

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'''Nuclear Power''' is a sort of [[energy]] generation. It uses nuclear fuel to produce heat, which is usually transformed into [[electricity]].
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[[Image:nuclear_warning_sign.png|right|Nuclear Danger Icon]]
  
Nuclear power has been considered as the preferred energy source for most plans for medium- to long-term human expeditions to [[Mars]]. It does not depend on [environmental conditions|weather condition]].
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'''Nuclear Power''' is a method of [[energy]] generation. It uses [[nuclear fuel]] to produce heat, which is usually transformed into [[electricity]]. Nuclear power is considered the preferred energy source for most plans for medium- to long-term human expeditions to [[Mars]].
  
The availability of radioactive resources on Mars is unclear. Due to the vast effort of the nuclear enrichment process the nuclear fuel must be brought from Earth, preventing the [[settlement]] to be [[independence from Earth|independent from Earth]].
 
  
==RTG==
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== Usage On Mars==
[[Radioisotope thermoelectric generator]]s (abbr.: RTG) are simple devices. They produce a heat difference, transformed by a [[thermocouple]] to electrocal energy. The maintenance effort is low.
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The generation of electricity from nuclear fuel does not depend on [[environmental conditions|weather conditions]] so would be useful for maintaining a reliable source of power on Mars. However, due to the unclear availability of radioactive resources on Mars and the difficulty in preparing the fuel (the nuclear enrichment process) any nuclear fuel will have to be brought from [[Earth]] for the foreseeable future. This would significantly prevent the [[settlement]] from being [[independence from Earth|independent from Earth]].
  
==Nuclear reactor==
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== Nuclear reactor ==
In a nuclear reactor the heat boils [[water]] to steam. Turbines are driven by the steam's pressure, spinning a dynamo to generate electric energy.
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In a nuclear reactor, heat caused by the radioactivity boils [[water]] to steam. [[turbine|Turbines]] are driven by the steam's pressure, spinning a dynamo to generate electric energy.
  
==Nuclear heating==
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== Nuclear heating ==
Heating [[greenhouse]]s and other [[building]]s may be done indirectly by the heat of the nuclear fission. The heat can be transported in pipes from the reactor to the buildings. Heat exchangers avoid nuclear pollution of the buildings temporarily.
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Heating [[greenhouse]]s and other [[building]]s may be done indirectly by the heat of the nuclear fission. The heat can be transported in pipes from the reactor to the buildings. Heat exchangers avoid nuclear pollution of the buildings.
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== Types of Nuclear Generation ==
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=== RTG ===
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[[Radioisotope thermoelectric generator]]s (abbr.: RTG) are simple devices. They produce a heat difference, transformed by a [[thermocouple]] to electrical energy. The maintenance effort is low.
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However, RTGs do not provide enough power for a base.
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=== Nuclear Heatpipe Reactor ===
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Small to Medium [[Heatpipe Reactors]] offer stable, safe power that requires no outside support system or personnel and is immune to meltdown, it can be scaled from .5kw to 50mw for remote bases, small cities, and forward operating bases here on Earth, these reactors could power a Colony or a Spaceship for between 5 and 40 years with no maintenance, with no in-situ resources needed. <ref name=":0">Idaho National Labs, Dr. K.P Annath, Dr. Michael Kellar, Mr. James Werner, Dr James Sterbentz '' Portable Special Purpose Nuclear Reactor (2 MW) for Remote Operating Bases and Microgrids '', https://ndiastorage.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/ndia/2017/power/Ananth19349.pdf, May 2017.</ref> <ref name=":1">NASA Kilopower Project, Dr. David Poston '' Small Nuclear Reactors for Mars - 21st Annual Mars Society Convention '', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLE5YFuCmhw, Sep 2018.</ref>
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== Open issues ==
  
==Open issues==
 
 
*What sort of nuclear fuel is needed?
 
*What sort of nuclear fuel is needed?
 
*How long can the described nuclear power stations work without replenishment of nuclear fuel?
 
*How long can the described nuclear power stations work without replenishment of nuclear fuel?
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*What is known about nuclear resources on Mars?
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== References ==
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{{reflist}}
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== External links ==
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* None
  
[[Category:Technology]]
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[[Category:Sources]]
[[Category:Energy]]
 

Revision as of 13:38, 17 December 2018

Nuclear Danger Icon

Nuclear Power is a method of energy generation. It uses nuclear fuel to produce heat, which is usually transformed into electricity. Nuclear power is considered the preferred energy source for most plans for medium- to long-term human expeditions to Mars.


Usage On Mars

The generation of electricity from nuclear fuel does not depend on weather conditions so would be useful for maintaining a reliable source of power on Mars. However, due to the unclear availability of radioactive resources on Mars and the difficulty in preparing the fuel (the nuclear enrichment process) any nuclear fuel will have to be brought from Earth for the foreseeable future. This would significantly prevent the settlement from being independent from Earth.

Nuclear reactor

In a nuclear reactor, heat caused by the radioactivity boils water to steam. Turbines are driven by the steam's pressure, spinning a dynamo to generate electric energy.

Nuclear heating

Heating greenhouses and other buildings may be done indirectly by the heat of the nuclear fission. The heat can be transported in pipes from the reactor to the buildings. Heat exchangers avoid nuclear pollution of the buildings.

Types of Nuclear Generation

RTG

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (abbr.: RTG) are simple devices. They produce a heat difference, transformed by a thermocouple to electrical energy. The maintenance effort is low. However, RTGs do not provide enough power for a base.

Nuclear Heatpipe Reactor

Small to Medium Heatpipe Reactors offer stable, safe power that requires no outside support system or personnel and is immune to meltdown, it can be scaled from .5kw to 50mw for remote bases, small cities, and forward operating bases here on Earth, these reactors could power a Colony or a Spaceship for between 5 and 40 years with no maintenance, with no in-situ resources needed. [1] [2]

Open issues

  • What sort of nuclear fuel is needed?
  • How long can the described nuclear power stations work without replenishment of nuclear fuel?
  • What is known about nuclear resources on Mars?

References

  1. Idaho National Labs, Dr. K.P Annath, Dr. Michael Kellar, Mr. James Werner, Dr James Sterbentz Portable Special Purpose Nuclear Reactor (2 MW) for Remote Operating Bases and Microgrids , https://ndiastorage.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/ndia/2017/power/Ananth19349.pdf, May 2017.
  2. NASA Kilopower Project, Dr. David Poston Small Nuclear Reactors for Mars - 21st Annual Mars Society Convention , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLE5YFuCmhw, Sep 2018.

External links

  • None