Paolo Venneri

• USNC

The deployment of advanced reactor concepts requires state-of-the-art system tools that can handle incompressible and compressible flow regimes for different types of working fluids. As a result, the development and implementation of a 1-D compressible flow module occurred for TRICORDER, a MOOSE-based Finite Element Method (FEM) multi-physics syste...

This paper presents an overview of the latest developments in the designing of low-enriched uranium nuclear thermal rockets (LEU-NTR). The concept is first introduced and explained in the context of human exploration of Mars and the development time frames associated with current and future research. The need for LEU fuel is established and the pro...

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is a non-chemical propulsion technology capable of high specific impulse (850-900 s) and high inherent thrust (100 – 2,200 kN) extensively tested in the United States and former Soviet Union. Most recent NTP development efforts have focused on recapturing fuel production capabilities and optimizing small thrust engi...

Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) propulsion is a viable and meritorious option for human exploration into deep-space because of its high thrust, improved specific impulse, well established technology, bimodal capability, and enhanced mission safety and reliability. The NTR technology has already been investigated and tested by the United States of Amer...

A novel and high performance 20-MWth plate-type pool research reactor based on coated particle fuel was successfully developed [1-2]. This research reactor has been documented to produce very high thermal and fast flux, on the order of 10 15 and 10 14 neutrons/cm 2 s, respectively. Moreover, it has also improved on the inherent safety of research r...

This paper is concerned with the possibility of implementing Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuels in NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) type Nuclear Thermal Rockets (NTR). It presents a detailed study of the requirements for implementing LEU in a NERVA type NTR revolving around the softening of the neutron spectrum. This work has bee...

This paper proposes an innovative Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) concept of the Korea Advanced NUclear Thermal Engine Rocket (KANUTER) for future space applications. KANUTER consists of an Extremely High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (EHTGR) utilizing hydrogen propellant, a propulsion system, and an electricity generation system. KANUTER has the not...

This paper is the second paper on the study regarding the feasibility of low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel in nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) applications. While the first paper dealt primarily with the issue of achieving and demonstrating criticality of the LEU-loaded NTR, this companion paper addresses other important reactor parameters which need to...

Space is one of the best places for humanity to turn to keep learning and exploiting. A Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) is a viable and more efficient option for human space exploration than the existing Chemical Rockets (CRs) which are highly inefficient for long-term manned missions such as to Mars and its satellites. NERVA derived NTR engines have...