Romashka reactor

The Romashka reactor was a small Soviet experimental nuclear reactor-converter, as well as the type of reactors that following it. It was developed in the 1960s by the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy. It used direct thermoelectric conversion to electricity, similar to an RTG, rather than heating water to drive a turbine.[1]

Reactors of the Romashka type was used to power early RORSAT satellites.[2]

The reactor type as also been used with thermionic converters.[3]

Research reactor

The fuel was highly enriched uranium (90% 235U) in the form of UC2 (Uranium carbide).[2][4][5]

The experimental reactor was started (reached criticality) in 1964 and was decommissioned in 1966 and was used for research about direct energy conversion.[5] It produced 40 kW.[2][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. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nuclear Reactors for Space". World Nuclear Association. September 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  3. ↑ Ponmarev-Stepnoi, Nikolai N.; Veniamin A. Usov; Yuri V. Nikolaev; Stanislav A. Yeriemin; Yevgeny Ye. Zhabotinski; Anatoly Ya. Galkin; Yevgeny D. Avdoshyn (1995-01-20). "Conceptual design of the bimodal nuclear power system based on the "Romashka" type reactor with thermionic energy conversion system". Proceedings of the 12th symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion: Conference on alternative power from space; Conference on accelerator-driven transmutation technologies and applications. 324. Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA): AIP. pp. 871–875. doi:10.1063/1.47126. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  4. ↑ Angelo, Joseph A. (2004). "Reentry of Soviet Nuclear-Powered Reactor Spacecraft". Nuclear Technology. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 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
  5. 1 2 3 "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. Retrieved 2009-01-06.

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