Romashka reactor

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Romashka reactor
Romashka reactor.png
Cutaway view of an early ground-based Romashka reactor showing 11 fuel disks.
GenerationExperimental
Reactor conceptRTG
Statusdecommissioned
Main parameters of the reactor core
Fuel (fissile material)235U
Fuel statesolid disks, UC
2
Neutron energy spectrumFast
Primary control methodrod
Neutron reflectorBeryllium
Primary coolantnone (conduction)
Reactor usage
Primary useresearch
Power (thermal)40 kW
Power (electric)0.3–10 kW

The Romashka reactor (Russian: Ромашка, lit. 'chamomile') was a Soviet experimental nuclear reactor. It began operation in 1964, and was developed by the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy. The reactor was a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, that used direct thermoelectric conversion to create electricity, rather than heating water to drive a turbine.[1]

The Romashka reactor was developed with the intention of using nuclear power in space satellites, but was superseded by the more powerful BES-5 reactor. The project was canceled after the death of Sergei Korolev, who was heavily involved in the project.[citation needed]

Reactor design[]

The fuel was 49 kg of highly enriched uranium (90% 235
U
) in the form of UC2 (uranium carbide).[2][3][4] A beryllium reflector was used on the ends of the reactor, and electricity was generated using silicon-germanium semiconductors.

The Romashka reactor didn't use liquid coolant; it was designed to be simple, compact, and light. Temperature was self-regulated through the use of a negative temperature reactivity coefficient. The successful demonstration of the Romashka reactor provided a baseline for further developments in Soviet nuclear power for space satellites.[citation needed]

The experimental reactor was started (reached criticality) in 1964 and decommissioned in 1966, and was used to research the concept of direct energy conversion.[4] It produced 40 kW of heat,[2][4] and reached temperatures of 2,173 K (1,900 °C; 3,452 °F).The reactor operated for 15000 hrs.[5]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Ponomarev-Stepnoi, N. N.; Kukharkin, N. E.; Usov, V. A. (March 2000). ""Romashka" reactor-converter". Atomic Energy. New York: Springer. 88 (3): 178–183. doi:10.1007/BF02673156. ISSN 1063-4258.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nuclear Reactors for Space". World Nuclear Association. September 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  3. ^ Angelo, Joseph A. (2004). "Reentry of Soviet Nuclear-Powered Reactor Spacecraft". Nuclear Technology. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 417. ISBN 1-57356-336-6. Retrieved 2009-01-06. A small, relatively low-powered, space nuclear reactor (called the Romashka reactor), using HEU as its fuel, provided electric power to this type of Soviet radar-surveillance satellite
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Nuclear research reactors and nuclear research centers". Project # 245 "Radleg". Kurchatov Institute, All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Technology. pp. Table 6.1 and section 6.2.1.11. Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  5. ^ Bennett, Gary L. (August 6, 1989). "A LOOK AT THE SOVIET SPACE NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM" (PDF). International Forum on Energy Engineering. NASA Propulsion, Power and Energy Division. IECEC-89. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
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