The design and simulation of micro-reactors for space propulsion, lunar surface power and planetary defence

空间推进、月球表面动力和行星防御微反应堆的设计与仿真

• 批准号: 2888098
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Manchester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2888098
• 关键词: design; simulation; micro; reactors; space

There is increasing interest in enabling humans to explore further into space and for longer periods of time than has historically been achieved, including a permanent presence on the lunar surface and travel to Mars. To achieve these aims it will be important to design and develop compact, efficient, long-lived (up to 10 years), and high-power (MW-electric scale) nuclear reactor systems. These high-power space reactor designs also open up the foundations for humanity to develop a wider array of systems capable of deflecting Near Earth Objects on a potential collision course with Earth.The project will involve 3D simulation of micro-reactors for the purposes outlined above, with a focus on neutronics and fuel behaviour. Given the important role fuel integrity plays in determining if a reactor concept is viable, there will be a particular focus on ensuring the fuel can operate within its design limits for the mission objectives and make use of advanced uncertainty analysis techniques in the area of fuel simulation. The successful student will have the opportunity to work with leading experts in the UK and the US in modelling micro-reactors.The candidate should have experience in the following areas: use of a programming language (such as Python); manipulation of large datasets; probability theory; and most importantly an interest in understanding and applying mathematical processes to solve real-world problems using computational infrastructure.

人们越来越有兴趣使人类能够探索更远的空间，比历史上实现的时间更长，包括在月球表面永久存在和前往火星。为了实现这些目标，设计和开发紧凑、高效、长寿命（可达10年）和高功率（兆瓦电规模）的核反应堆系统将是重要的。这些高功率空间反应堆设计还为人类开发能够使近地物体偏离可能与地球碰撞轨道的更广泛的系统奠定了基础，该项目将涉及为上述目的对微型反应堆进行三维模拟，重点是中子学和燃料特性。考虑到燃料完整性在确定反应堆概念是否可行方面的重要作用，将特别注重确保燃料能够在其使命目标的设计限度内运行，并在燃料模拟领域利用先进的不确定性分析技术。成功的学生将有机会与英国和美国的领先专家一起工作，建立微型反应堆模型。候选人应具有以下领域的经验：编程语言（如Python）的使用;大型数据集的操作;概率论;最重要的是对理解和应用数学过程以使用计算基础设施解决现实世界问题的兴趣。