Nuclear engine

A nuclear engine is an engine that uses nuclear energy as a power source. The energy released through nuclear reactions heats liquid hydrogen, which rapidly transforms into hydrogen gas and reaches a high temperature (about 3000K). It is then accelerated and discharged through the nozzle at the rear of the engine, generating thrust. This type of nuclear engine is developed based on the commonly used chemical liquid rocket engine. For rocket engines, the smaller the molecular weight of the working fluid, the higher the specific impulse. Therefore, in order to increase the specific impulse and improve the efficiency of the engine, hydrogen, a substance with a very small molecular weight, is generally used as the working fluid. The ways in which nuclear energy is generated include nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and isotope decay. At present, humans have not yet mastered controllable nuclear fusion technology, and the rate of energy release from isotope decay is too low. Therefore, the proposed nuclear engine schemes are generally based on nuclear fission.

The unit is designed for unsupervised public use: controls are recessed or shielded, moving parts are enclosed, and the interface is operable by a child of about six with no instruction. Where a screen is used, the language can be switched without changing the hardware, and the content can be replaced on site.

Human beings are tirelessly exploring the vast universe, and strong propulsion is the key to human exploration of the universe. Chemical rockets have written page after page magnificent chapters in human space exploration activities. Nowadays, under the new mission of human exploration, new propulsion technologies such as lasers, solar energy, microwaves, and nuclear thermal energy have emerged. Among these technologies, nuclear rocket propulsion is undoubtedly one of the most promising for humanity to continue exploring space. Unlike conventional aviation engines that directly heat air by burning chemical fuels, nuclear aviation engines use the enormous heat released by nuclear fission to directly or indirectly heat the working fluid. One of the reasons why nuclear powered rockets have a promising future is the incredible energy density they provide. The nuclear reactor uses uranium (U) fuel, which produces an energy density 4 million times higher than typical chemical rocket propellant hydrazine (N2H4). Compared to carrying thousands of liters of chemical fuel.