Wide-speed-range, long-endurance air-breathing nuclear propulsion system and aircraft

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of aviation power systems, and discloses a wide-speed range, long-endurance air-breathing nuclear propulsion system and an aircraft. The wide-speed range, long-endurance air-breathing nuclear propulsion system solves the problem that pure nuclear propulsion systems are difficult to achieve high Mach number flight due to the temperature limit of the reactor core wall. The system includes an air inlet, a precooler, a compressor, a nuclear reactor, a first turbine, a combustion chamber, a nozzle, a fuel tank, a first valve, a second valve, a fuel pump, a diverter, a second turbine and a mixer. The present invention improves the working conditions of the compressor and increases the heat exchange temperature difference between the core wall and the air by introducing liquid hydrogen to pre-cool the incoming air, thereby improving the specific impulse and thrust-to-weight ratio of the system and expanding the flight envelope.

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