CCC-0558 ALKASYS.

ALKASYS, Rankine-Cycle Space Nuclear Power System

NAME OR DESIGNATION OF PROGRAM, COMPUTER, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM OR FUNCTION, METHOD OF SOLUTION, RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM, TYPICAL RUNNING TIME, UNUSUAL FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM, RELATED AND AUXILIARY PROGRAMS, STATUS, REFERENCES, MACHINE REQUIREMENTS, LANGUAGE, OPERATING SYSTEM UNDER WHICH PROGRAM IS EXECUTED, OTHER PROGRAMMING OR OPERATING INFORMATION OR RESTRICTIONS, NAME AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTHORS, MATERIAL, CATEGORIES

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1. NAME OR DESIGNATION OF PROGRAM: ALKASYS (A Computer Program for
Studies of Rankine-Cycle Space Nuclear Power Systems)

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2. COMPUTERS

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Program name	Package id	Status	Status date
ALKASYS	CCC-0558/01	Arrived	20-JUN-2001

Machines used:

Package ID	Orig. computer	Test computer
CCC-0558/01	IBM PC

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3. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM OR FUNCTION

The program ALKASYS is used for the creation of design concepts of multimegawatt space power systems that employ potassium Rankine power conversion cycles.

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4. METHOD OF SOLUTION

ALKASYS calculates performance and design characteristics and mass estimates for the major subsystems composing the total power system. Design and engineering performance characteristics are determined by detailed engineering procedures rather than by empirical algorithms. Mass estimates are developed using basic design principles augmented in some cases by empirical coefficients determined from the literature. The reactor design is based on a fast spectrum, metallic-clad rod fuel element containing UN pellets.

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5. RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM

ALKASYS was developed primarily for the analysis of systems with electric power in the range from 1,000 to 25,000 kW(e) and full-power life from 1 to 10 years. The program should be used with caution in systems that are limited by heat flux (which might indicate need for extended surfaces on fuel elements) or criticality (which might indicate the need for other geometries or moderators).

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6. TYPICAL RUNNING TIME

The sample case using the direct cycle took about five minutes on an IBM PX/XT under the DOS operating system.

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7. UNUSUAL FEATURES OF THE PROGRAM:

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8. RELATED AND AUXILIARY PROGRAMS:

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9. STATUS

Package ID	Status date	Status
CCC-0558/01	20-JUN-2001	Masterfiled Arrived

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10. REFERENCES:

CCC-0558/01, included references:

- Moyers, J.C. and Nichols, J.P.:
  ALKASYS, A Computer Program for Studies of Rankine-Cycle Space
  Nuclear Power Systems
  ORNL/TM-10427 (September 1987).

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11. MACHINE REQUIREMENTS: IBM PC and compatibles.

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12. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE(S) USED

Package ID	Computer language
CCC-0558/01	BASIC

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13. OPERATING SYSTEM UNDER WHICH PROGRAM IS EXECUTED

The code was written in IBM BASIC and tested under PC-DOS (IBM PC). An ASCII file produced by the BASIC interpreter is included.

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14. OTHER PROGRAMMING OR OPERATING INFORMATION OR RESTRICTIONS:

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15. NAME AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTHORS

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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16. MATERIAL AVAILABLE

CCC-0558/01

miscellaneous    mag tapeREADME Information File                    MISTP
source program   mag tapeALKASYS.BAS BASIC Program for ALKASYS      SRCTP
report                   ORNL/TM-10427 (September 1987)             REPPT

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17. CATEGORIES

C. Static Design Studies

Keywords: Rankine cycle power systems.