?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????? Within PULSAR, a work package led by INCOTEC - Innovación Eficiente was dedicated to analysing the market potential of dynamic power systems fuelled by Pu-238 and the future uptake of the PULSAR solutions. Details ??
关于我们
PULSAR is a research project funded under the Euratom Research and Training Programme that will develop key enabling technologies for exploration of deep space, where the sun cannot deliver sufficient power to spacecrafts. It will most notably lay the foundations for end-to-end European production of Pu-238, the preferred isotope for fueling space missions, and use a Stirling engine to design a dynamic Radioistope Power System (RPS) that will be up to five times more efficient than the current systems.
- 所属行业
- 核能发电
- 规模
- 11-50 人
- 类型
- 教育机构
- 创立
- 2022
- 领域
- space research、power generation和nuclear energy
动态
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Mechanical assembly of PULSAR Radioisotope Power System (RPS) TRACTEBEL
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?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????? The objective of PULSAR's work package 3, led by TRACTEBEL, was to develop the design of the Radioisotope Power System assembly. Early in the project, potential missions were selected and the specifications were defined for electrical power needs, available geometry, thermal environment, mechanical constraints, etc. by Airbus Defence and Space. Two missions were considered most suitable for the integration of a first European RPS : a continuous power supply for a lunar rover mission or for a lunar cargo carrier. In parallel, nuclear safety requirements for launch were defined by ArianeGroup considering the perspective of launching the RPS from the Guyana Space Centre. Details ??
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?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????? The goal of WP2 was to establish a conceptual design and study of the energy production unit of the PULSAR ASRG, including the heat source and Stirling converter. This design was then subjected to trade-off assessments to define an optimal operating point with the current design limits. Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives | UBFC - Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Details ??
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?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????? The PULSAR work package dedicated to Pu-238 production and processing, led by SCK CEN, addressed key challenges in establishing European production of Pu-238. The project progressed from a feasibility study, confirming the realistic potential for Pu-238 production in Europe, towards proof of concept. Details ??
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This week, we organised our final workshop entitled ?????? ?????????????? ???? ????????????: ?????????????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????????? ????-??????- ???????????? ???????????????????????? ?????????? ????????????. We were privileged to start the day with two keynotes: first, Cristina Fernández Ramos, policy officer at Euratom Research, on the global Euratom framework and then Pierre Coquay, European Space Agency - ESA technical leader of the ENDURE program, on the energy challenges of exploratory and scientific space missions. TRACTEBEL presented the project's key results and exploitation roadmap and INCOTEC - Innovación Eficiente provided an overview of the RPS technology market. ? We had the pleasure of having a panel to discuss some fundamental aspects of PULSAR's development with Roger GARBIL (Euratom), Christophe Fongarland (ESA), Pierre Coquay (ESA) and Grégoire Lambert (Framatome). In the afternoon, we took a closer look at the project achievements: ?? Airbus Defence and Space: Space mission analysis ?? SCK CEN: Towards European Pu-238 production ?? JRC: Production and cladding of PuO2 fuel pellet ?? CEA: Pu-238 heat source architecture ??UBFC - Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté : Energy conversion - Modeling of the Architecture of a Stirling Engine for Space Application ?? TRACTEBEL?: RPS mechanical engineering integration ??Airbus Defence and Space?: RPS system engineering integration ?? TRACTEBEL?:Safety assessment, licensing and regulations ??ArianeGroup: Launch phase nuclear safety We thank all the speakers for their efforts and the participants for the great interest that they showed in our work!
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???Happy World Space Week! Tractebel leads three European projects that aim to develop advanced nuclear technologies for space exploration paving the way for Europe to become an autonomous global leader in this field. ?? PULSAR Euratom: Funded by the European Commission, this project focuses on developing radioisotope power systems (RPS) fueled by plutonium-238 (Pu-238) within Europe. These RPS systems are critical for providing electricity and heat to spacecraft in environments where the sun does not supply sufficient power, such as deep space missions or on the moon during lunar nights. ?? ESA Optimus Pro: This project part of the European Space Agency - ESA Endure program complements the Euratom PULSAR project mentioned above. It explores how to optimise the industrialisation of Pu-238 production on European soil. ?? ESA RocketRoll: This ambitious project, led by ESA, explores the potential of Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) for future space missions. By 2035, we aim to present a suitable NEP design as a European demonstrator. This technology will enable Europe to conduct long-duration missions, including manned missions to Mars. Watch out for more information SOON! ?? By leveraging our nuclear expertise and innovative solutions, we help advance space technologies and push the boundaries of the final frontier’s exploration! Brieuc SPINDLER Alessia Simonini #WeAreTractebel #EngineeringaCarbonNeutralFuture #WSW2024 #WorldSpaceWeek #spaceexploration #nucleartechnology #innovation #nuclearenergy #climatechange
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Our project was presented by Brieuc SPINDLER of TRACTEBEL at the VIII Space Resources Conference held at the AGH University of Krakow!
?? How does nuclear energy power space exploration? Our expert, Brieuc SPINDLER, gave a speech on "nuclear power system for space exploration" during the VIIth Space Resources Conference on 23-24 May at AGH University of Krakow, Poland. ? ? Brieuc stressed that there's no alternative to nuclear energy to power space missions. Radioisotope power systems (RPS) are vital to providing spacecrafts and astronauts with electricity and heat where the sun does not supply sufficient power. They use the heat from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium 238 (Pu-238) to produce electric power. However, Europe relies so far on external suppliers for nuclear fuel, Pu-238 and RPS.? ? ?? Brieuc presented the results of the EU-funded research project, PULSAR Euratom, led by Tractebel that aims to conduct research on dynamic radioisotope power systems (RPS) fueled by plutonium 238 (Pu-238) and to develop a European supply chain for Pu-238 for space applications. ? ?? The conference provides an open forum for discussion on state-of-the-art space technologies. This year, it focused on future concepts, new visions, and research results for space resource extraction, transportation, manufacturing, and Moon and Mars settlements' developments. ? #nuclearenergy #spaceexploration #innovation #research #radioisotopes
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The PULSAR consortium came together yesterday at the CEA headquarters in Paris to discuss the progress achieved in the last months and plan the final phase of the project ?? TRACTEBEL | CEA | SCK CEN | UBFC - Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | Université de Franche-Comté | INCOTEC - Innovación Eficiente | ARTTIC | Airbus Defence and Space | ArianeGroup | Joint Research Centre
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Within the PULSAR partnership, INCOTEC - Innovación Eficiente will perform market assessment of PULSAR results and support partners in their exploitation and protection from an IPR perspective. Details ??