Liquid Droplet Radiator for SNP – Study (LDR4SNP-STUDY)

Successful exploration of the lunar surface, martian surface and beyond by humans and robotics will require significant power generation. One of the best options for high level power generation is a nuclear fission reactor which can produce large amounts of power during the day and night on the lunar surface; however, it will also produce significant amounts of waste heat that will need to be rejected. A liquid droplet radiator is one option for effectively radiating this waste heat to space. This type of radiator will minimize mass over conventional panel-based radiators and require minimal deployment enhancing the feasibility of using nuclear power on the lunar surface and other locations in the solar system. The liquid droplet radiator could also be used as the heat rejection capability for some In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) processes. This study will establish the feasibility of the liquid droplet radiator concept in conjunction with a nuclear fission power system on the lunar surface and look at its applicablility for missions beyond the moon such as Mars and the moons of Gas and Icy Giants. A system study that compares a nuclear fission reactor using a conventional radiator system to the liquid drop radiator will be done for a lunar habitat and ISRU power system mission in conjunction with the NASA Glenn Reseach Center (GRC) COMPASS team. The plan is to leverage lunar fission surface power studies to investigate the design, benefits, costs and feasibility to deploy a liquid droplet radiator as an upgrade to traditional radiators.

A liquid droplet radiator will minimize mass over conventional panel-based radiators and require minimal deployment enhancing the feasibility of using nuclear power on the lunar surface and other locations in the solar system. Preliminary concept evaluation reduces the radiator mass required for 40 kilowatts electric by greater than 500 kg; this is estimated to be 1/4 to 1/3 the mass of a conventional radiator. This will better enable the use of nuclear power on lunar and martian surface operations to support ISRU and in the case of missions beyond the surface, exploration of deep space celestial bodies. Other benefits besides significantly reducing the radiator mass includes ease in deployment and operation since large radiator panels are not needed; highly adjustable heat transfer capability by regulating the droplet flight time; and liquid droplet radiators can minimize freezing issues if the reactor is shut down for periods of time since the fluid is not contained within a network of pipes as in a standard radiator.​

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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