Reliability and vulnerability studies of the SP-100 dual-loop thermoelectric-electromagnetic pump

A parametric analysis evaluating the reliability, as well as the vulneralibity to secondary coolant overheating, of the SP-100 space nuclear power system's thermoelectric-electromagnetic pump, is presently undertaken on the basis of a transient model of the pump's dual-loop configuration. The results obtained indicate that the pump ceases to operate when the secondary coolant temperature either equals that of the primary coolant or exceeds 1255 K, irrespective of the primary coolant temperature. Insulating the pump's magnetic structure from the secondary coolant ducts improves duct performance, and reduces its vulnerability to external heating of the secondary coolant to temperatures above 1000 K. (O.C.)