Mars nuclear energy power generation system based on open Brayton cycle and power generation method thereof
By constructing a nuclear power generation system based on the open Brayton cycle on Mars, directly utilizing the Martian atmosphere as the working fluid, and combining intermediate cooling and reheating methods, the complexity of Martian power generation systems and their dependence on Earth resources have been solved, achieving a highly efficient and simple power generation system design and high-efficiency power output.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511024767.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies make it difficult to effectively utilize Martian atmospheric resources for efficient power generation, resulting in complex structures, high design difficulty, and dependence on Earth resources for Martian power generation systems, which increases launch payload and cost.
An open Brayton cycle is adopted, directly coupling the nuclear reactor with the Martian atmosphere. The power generation system is constructed through components such as filters, compressors, heat exchangers, turbines and generators. The Martian atmosphere is used as the working fluid for power generation, and combined with intercooling, reheating and reheating methods, liquid water is used as the working fluid on the cold side of the intercooler, which is converted into the working fluid for power generation when needed to increase instantaneous power.
It achieves efficient power generation by utilizing Martian atmospheric resources. The system has a simple structure, low design difficulty, and high power generation efficiency. It can improve the overall thermal efficiency under normal power generation conditions and instantly increase power output when power demand increases.
Smart Images
Figure CN120968792A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application belongs to the field of space exploration and advanced power generation technology, and particularly relates to a Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle. BACKGROUND
[0002] In order to further explore, develop and utilize Mars resources, the construction of a Mars base has become a key space project for various space powers. To build a Mars base, there are many technical problems, including how to provide a stable and safe Mars power generation system.
[0003] The most ideal power generation method on Mars is to generate power through a nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor can provide reliable and continuous power for Mars. Studies have shown that the main component of the Mars atmosphere is CO2, which accounts for more than 95% of the total volume of the Mars atmosphere. Therefore, if a nuclear reactor power generation system can be developed to use the abundant and readily available atmospheric composition CO2 on Mars as the working medium of the power generation cycle, thereby reducing the dependence on Earth resources and reducing the Mars launch load and cost, it is of great significance for human research and development of Mars. SUMMARY
[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide a Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle, which couples the reactor with an open Brayton cycle and directly uses the Mars atmosphere as the power generation working medium for power generation. It has the advantages of small volume and weight, simple structure, stable power generation and is very suitable for the Mars environment.
[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present application provides the following technical solutions: In a first aspect, the present application provides a Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle, which includes a Mars atmosphere Brayton cycle power generation system and a power regulation system. The Mars atmosphere Brayton cycle power generation system includes a filter, a primary air compressor, a intercooler, a secondary air compressor, a regenerator, a main heat exchanger, a primary turbine, a reheater, a secondary turbine, a generator, and a nuclear reactor. The power regulation system includes a water storage tank, a water pump, an electromagnetic reversing valve, and a liquid collecting tank. The outlet of the filter is in communication with the inlet of the primary air compressor, the outlet of the primary air compressor is in communication with the hot side inlet of the intercooler, the hot side outlet of the intercooler is in communication with the inlet of the secondary air compressor, the outlet of the secondary air compressor is in communication with the cold side inlet of the regenerator, the cold side outlet of the regenerator is in communication with the cold side inlet of the main heat exchanger, the hot side outlet of the heat exchanger is in communication with the inlet of the primary turbine, the outlet of the primary turbine is in communication with the inlet of the reheater, the outlet of the reheater is in communication with the inlet of the secondary turbine, the outlet of the secondary turbine is in communication with the hot side inlet of the regenerator, and the hot side outlet of the regenerator is in communication with the Mars atmosphere; the high-temperature heat pipe in the nuclear reactor is in communication with the main heat exchanger and the reheater, serving as an internal heat source. The generator output shaft is connected with the secondary turbine; The cooling water in the water storage tank flows into the intercooler through the water pump, the outlet of the intercooler is communicated with the inlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve, one way of the outlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve is connected to the inlet of the primary turbine for work through the main heat exchanger, and the other way of the outlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve is communicated with the liquid collecting tank.
[0006] Further, there is a preferred embodiment that the inlet of the Mars atmosphere access filter is provided, and the filter is used for filtering sand and dust impurities in the Mars air.
[0007] Further, there is a preferred embodiment that the primary compressor, the secondary compressor, the primary turbine, the secondary turbine and the generator are coaxially arranged.
[0008] Further, there is a preferred embodiment that the nuclear reactor adopts a heat pipe cooled reactor, and the heat pipe is used for transferring heat in the reactor core to the heat exchanger through phase change. Further, there is a preferred embodiment that the intercooler is a tube-in-shell heat exchanger, and the liquid water flows through the tube side.
[0009] Further, there is a preferred embodiment that when the power regulation system is started, the electromagnetic reversing valve reverses the flow of the liquid water in the liquid collecting tank into the main heat exchanger, and the liquid water is heated into steam and then flows into the primary turbine for work.
[0010] Further, there is a preferred embodiment that the liquid water in the water storage tank is generated on site through the water resources on the surface of Mars.
[0011] Further, there is a preferred embodiment that each component of the power generation system is launched to Mars from the earth through a rocket.
[0012] In the second aspect, the application further provides a power generation method based on the open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system. In the normal power generation state, the power regulation system does not work, and the Mars atmosphere is pressurized, cooled, pressurized again, heat recovered, and heated again in sequence to circulate the primary turbine and the secondary turbine for expansion work. In the normal power generation state, the electromagnetic reversing valve normally works, and the liquid water in the cold side of the intercooler flows into the liquid collecting tank for collection after heat exchange.
[0013] When the power regulation system works, the liquid water in the cold side of the intercooler directly flows into the main heat exchanger after heat exchange through switching the flow path of the electromagnetic reversing valve, and the liquid water is heated into steam in the main heat exchanger and mixed with hot air to enter the primary turbine for expansion work, thereby improving the instantaneous power of the power generation system.
[0014] Compared with the prior art, the open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system has the following advantages: 1. The open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system is constructed, the open Brayton cycle power generation system directly utilizes cold air on the surface of Mars as a power generation working medium, adopts Mars atmospheric pressure and temperature as inlet parameters, and has relatively high cycle thermal efficiency and power generation efficiency; meanwhile, the combination of intermediate cooling, heat recovery and reheating is adopted, so that the overall thermal efficiency of the cycle is maximized; compared with the existing closed Brayton cycle power generation system, the open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system reduces components such as a radiation radiator, has the advantages of simple structure and low design difficulty, and the like.
[0015] 2. The open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system uses liquid water as a heat exchange working medium of a cold side of an intercooler, and only plays a cooling role in a normal power generation state of the system; when the power demand of the system increases, the liquid water is converted into a working medium to improve the instantaneous power of the system.
[0016] 3. The open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system also adopts a two-stage pressurization mode to increase the compression effect on the thin atmosphere of Mars, improve the work capacity of the working medium, reduce the pressure drop of the heat exchanger, and simultaneously adopt the intercooler to reduce the power consumption of the compressor.
[0017] The open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system is suitable for the field of space exploration power generation in the Mars atmosphere. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative effort on the basis of these drawings.
[0019] Figure 1 The figure is a structural schematic diagram of the open Brayton cycle-based Mars nuclear power generation system.
[0020] In the figure, 1 represents a filter, 2 represents a first-stage compressor, 3 represents an intercooler, 4 represents a second-stage compressor, 5 represents a heat recovery device, 6 represents a main heat exchanger, 7 represents a first-stage turbine, 8 represents a reheater, 9 represents a second-stage turbine, 10 represents a generator, 11 represents a nuclear reactor, 12 represents a water storage tank, 13 represents a water pump, 14 represents an electromagnetic reversing valve, and 15 represents a liquid collecting tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] In the following description, the specific implementation details provided by the specification of the "Mars nuclear power generation system based on open Brayton cycle and its power generation method" are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, and are intended to help those skilled in the art to understand the principles and implementation of the present application; however, those skilled in the art should understand that these details only represent one of the possible embodiments, and the core concept of the present application can be realized by other technical means or variations not described in detail, without departing from the spirit of the present application, and the omission of details of conventional experimental methods and devices in the specification is to avoid redundant information interfering with the understanding of the innovation, which does not mean that these well-known technologies are not required in implementation. Technical personnel should be able to supplement and use them based on their professional knowledge.
[0022] The specific embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present application, but do not limit the present application in any form. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several changes and improvements without departing from the concept of the present application, and these changes and improvements are within the scope of protection of the present application.
[0023] Embodiment one, combined Figure 1 In this embodiment, a Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle is provided, which couples the reactor with an open Brayton cycle and directly uses the Martian atmosphere as a power generation working fluid for power generation. It has the advantages of small volume and weight, simple structure, stable power generation, and is very suitable for the Martian environment.
[0024] The Mars nuclear power generation system comprises a Mars atmosphere Brayton cycle power generation system and a power regulation system; When the Mars atmosphere Brayton cycle power generation system is working, the power regulation system is not working, and the Mars atmosphere is pressurized, cooled, pressurized again, heat-recovered, and heated again in sequence to circulate and expand the first-stage turbine and the second-stage turbine; When the power regulation system is working, the flow path is switched by the electromagnetic reversing valve, the liquid water in the cold side of the intercooler is directly flowed into the main heat exchanger after heat exchange, heated into steam in the main heat exchanger, mixed with hot air, and then flowed into the first-stage turbine to expand and do work, thereby improving the instantaneous power of the power generation system.
[0025] As shown in Figure 1 The specific structure of the Mars nuclear power generation system is as follows: The Mars atmosphere Brayton cycle power generation system comprises a filter 1, a first-stage compressor 2, an intercooler 3, a second-stage compressor 4, a heat-recovery device 5, a main heat exchanger 6, a first-stage turbine 7, a reheater 8, a second-stage turbine 9, a generator 10, and a nuclear reactor 11. The power regulating system comprises a water storage tank 12, a water pump 13, an electromagnetic reversing valve 14, a liquid collection tank 15. Mars atmosphere accesses the inlet of the filter 1, the outlet of the filter 1 is connected with the inlet of the primary air compressor 2, the outlet of the primary air compressor 2 is connected with the hot side inlet of the intercooler 3, the hot side outlet of the intercooler 3 is connected with the inlet of the secondary air compressor 4, the outlet of the secondary air compressor 4 is connected with the cold side inlet of the regenerator 5, the cold side outlet of the regenerator 5 is connected with the cold side inlet of the main heat exchanger 6, the hot side outlet of the heat exchanger 6 is connected with the inlet of the primary turbine 7, the outlet of the primary turbine 7 is connected with the inlet of the reheater 8, the outlet of the reheater 8 is connected with the inlet of the secondary turbine 9, the outlet of the secondary turbine 9 is connected with the hot side inlet of the regenerator 5, and the hot side outlet of the regenerator 5 is connected with Mars atmosphere; the high-temperature heat pipe in the nuclear reactor 11 is connected with the main heat exchanger 6 and the reheater 8 as an internal heat source; The output shaft of the generator 10 is connected with the secondary turbine 9; The cooling water in the water storage tank 12 flows into the intercooler 3 through the water pump 13, the outlet of the intercooler 3 is connected with the inlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve 14, one way of the outlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve 14 is connected to the inlet of the primary turbine 7 through the main heat exchanger 6 to do work, and the other way of the outlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve 14 is connected with the liquid collection tank 15.
[0026] In this embodiment, each component of the power generation system is transported to Mars from the earth by a rocket.
[0027] In this embodiment, the liquid water in the water storage tank 12 is generated on site by using the water resources on the surface of Mars, thereby reducing other costs.
[0028] In this embodiment, the nuclear reactor 11 adopts a heat pipe cooled reactor, and the heat in the reactor core is transferred to the heat exchanger through the phase change of the high-temperature heat pipe.
[0029] In this embodiment, the primary air compressor 2, the secondary air compressor 4, the primary turbine 7, the secondary turbine 9 and the generator 10 are coaxially arranged, the primary turbine 7 and the secondary turbine 9 provide shaft power for the primary air compressor 2 and the secondary air compressor 4, and the generator 10 converts the excess shaft power into electrical energy.
[0030] In this embodiment, when the power regulating system is started, the electromagnetic reversing valve 14 reverses the flow of the liquid water flowing into the liquid collection tank 15 to flow into the main heat exchanger 6, and the liquid water is heated into steam and mixed with hot air to enter the primary turbine 7 to do work.
[0031] In the embodiment, the filter 1 is used to filter impurities such as sand in the Martian air to cope with weather such as sandstorms on Mars.
[0032] In the embodiment, the intercooler is a 3-tube shell heat exchanger, liquid water flows through the tube side, and air flows through the shell side to minimize air pressure drop.
[0033] It can be seen that the Mars nuclear power generation system based on the open Brayton cycle in the embodiment constructs a Mars nuclear power generation system using an open Brayton cycle. The open Brayton cycle power generation system directly uses cold air on the surface of Mars as a power generation working medium, uses the atmospheric pressure and temperature of Mars as inlet parameters, and has high cycle thermal efficiency and power generation efficiency. At the same time, the combination of intermediate cooling, heat recovery, and reheating maximizes the overall thermal efficiency of the cycle. Compared with the existing closed Brayton cycle power generation system, the structure is simple, the design difficulty is low, and the like. At the same time, a two-stage pressurization method is used to increase the compression effect of the thin atmosphere of Mars, improve the work capacity of the working medium, reduce the pressure drop of the heat exchanger, and use the intercooler for intermediate cooling to reduce the power consumption of the compressor.
[0034] Embodiment two, the embodiment provides a power generation method based on the Mars nuclear power generation system based on the open Brayton cycle in the above embodiment one, the power generation method includes a normal power generation state and a power regulation system working state, specifically: In the normal power generation state, the power regulation system does not work, and the Mars atmosphere is pressurized, cooled, pressurized again, heat recovered, and heated again in sequence to expand the work of the primary turbine and the secondary turbine in a cycle mode; And when the power is generated normally, the electromagnetic reversing valve works normally, and the liquid water in the cold side of the intercooler flows into the liquid collecting tank after heat exchange to be collected.
[0035] When the power regulation system works, the liquid water in the cold side of the intercooler directly flows into the main heat exchanger after heat exchange, is heated into steam in the main heat exchanger, is mixed with hot air, and then is input into the primary turbine to expand the work and improve the instantaneous power of the power generation system.
[0036] In actual application, the working principle of the power generation system in the embodiment is as follows: In the normal power generation state, the power regulating system does not work. The air from the Mars environment is filtered by the filter 1 to remove the sand dust, and then enters the primary compressor 2 to be pressurized. The air pressurized in the primary compressor 2 flows into the intercooler 3, and the temperature of the air is lowered by heat exchange with the low-temperature liquid water in the intercooler 3. The low-temperature and high-pressure gas flowing out of the intercooler 3 enters the secondary compressor 4 to be further pressurized. The air pressurized in the secondary compressor 4 flows into the regenerator 5 and the main heat exchanger 6 to be heated. The heated air enters the primary turbine 7 to expand and do work. The air after doing work is heated again by the reheater 8, and then enters the secondary turbine 9 to expand and do work. The primary compressor 2 and the secondary compressor 4 are coaxially arranged with the primary turbine 7 and the secondary turbine 9. The turbine expansion work provides shaft power for the compressor. The generator 10 converts the excess shaft power into electrical energy. The air after the secondary turbine 9 does work is discharged into the Mars environment after heat release by the regenerator 5.
[0037] When the system works normally, the electromagnetic reversing valve 14 works, and the liquid water on the cold side of the intercooler 3 flows into the liquid collecting tank 15 after heat exchange.
[0038] When the power regulating system works, the electromagnetic reversing valve 14 switches the flow path, and the liquid water on the cold side of the intercooler 3 flows into the main heat exchanger 6 after heat exchange. The liquid water heated into steam in the main heat exchanger 6 mixes with the hot air and enters the primary turbine 7 to expand and do work, thereby increasing the instantaneous power of the power generation system.
[0039] As can be seen, in the normal power generation state, the power regulating system does not work. The cold air on the surface of Mars is used as the power generation working medium, the atmospheric pressure and temperature of Mars are used as the inlet parameters, and the combination of intermediate cooling, heat recovery and reheating is adopted, so that the overall thermal efficiency of the cycle is maximized. At the same time, the liquid water is used as the heat exchange working medium on the cold side of the intercooler. In the normal power generation state of the system, the liquid water only plays a cooling role. When the power demand of the system increases, the power regulating system starts to work, the electromagnetic reversing valve switches the flow path, and the liquid water is converted into a working medium to increase the instantaneous power of the system.
[0040] The above further describes the technical solutions provided by the present application through several specific embodiments, in order to highlight the advantages and benefits of the technical solutions provided by the present application. However, the above several specific embodiments are not used as a limitation on the present application, and any reasonable changes and improvements, reasonable combinations and equivalent replacements of the embodiments, etc. based on the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.
Claims
1. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle, characterized in that, This includes a Martian atmospheric Brayton cycle power generation system and a power regulation system; The Mars atmospheric Brayton cycle power generation system includes a filter (1), a first-stage compressor (2), an intercooler (3), a second-stage compressor (4), a regenerator (5), a main heat exchanger (6), a first-stage turbine (7), a reheater (8), a second-stage turbine (9), a generator (10), and a nuclear reactor (11). The power regulation system includes a water storage tank (12), a water pump (13), an electromagnetic reversing valve (14), and a liquid collection tank (15); The outlet of filter (1) is connected to the inlet of the first-stage compressor (2), the outlet of the first-stage compressor (2) is connected to the hot-side inlet of the intercooler (3), the hot-side outlet of the intercooler (3) is connected to the inlet of the second-stage compressor (4), the outlet of the second-stage compressor (4) is connected to the cold-side inlet of the regenerator (5), the cold-side outlet of the regenerator (5) is connected to the cold-side inlet of the main heat exchanger (6), the hot-side outlet of the heat exchanger (6) is connected to the inlet of the first-stage turbine (7), the outlet of the first-stage turbine (7) is connected to the inlet of the reheater (8), the outlet of the reheater (8) is connected to the inlet of the second-stage turbine (9), the outlet of the second-stage turbine (9) is connected to the hot-side inlet of the regenerator (5), and the hot-side outlet of the regenerator (5) is connected to the Martian atmosphere; the high-temperature heat pipes in the nuclear reactor (11) are connected to the main heat exchanger (6) and the reheater (8) as an internal heat source; The output shaft of the generator (10) is connected to the second-stage turbine (9); Cooling water in the water tank (12) flows into the intercooler (3) through the water pump (13). The outlet of the intercooler (3) is connected to the inlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve (14). One outlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve (14) is connected to the inlet of the first-stage turbine (7) through the main heat exchanger (6) to do work. The other outlet of the electromagnetic reversing valve (14) is connected to the liquid collection tank (15).
2. The Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet of the Martian atmospheric access filter (1) is used to filter out dust and impurities in the Martian air.
3. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first-stage compressor (2), the second-stage compressor (4), the first-stage turbine (7), the second-stage turbine (9), and the generator (10) are arranged coaxially.
4. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nuclear reactor (11) adopts a heat pipe cooled reactor, and the heat in the reactor core is transferred to the heat exchanger through the phase change of the high temperature heat pipe.
5. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intercooler (3) is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, through which liquid water flows.
6. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the power regulation system is started, the electromagnetic reversing valve (14) reverses the flow of liquid water in the collection tank (15) into the main heat exchanger (6), which is heated into steam and then flows into the first-stage turbine (7) to do work.
7. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid water in the water tank (12) is generated on-site from water resources on the surface of Mars.
8. A Mars nuclear power generation system based on an open Brayton cycle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The components of the power generation system were transported from Earth to Mars via rocket launch.
9. A power generation method based on an open Brayton cycle Martian nuclear power generation system according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method is as follows: During normal power generation, the power regulation system does not work. The power is used to expand the first and second turbines by sequentially pressurizing, cooling, repressurizing, reheating and reheating the Martian atmosphere in a cyclical manner. When the power regulation system is working, by switching the flow path of the electromagnetic reversing valve, the liquid water on the cold side of the intercooler flows directly into the main heat exchanger after heat exchange. In the main heat exchanger, it is heated into steam and mixed with hot air before being passed into the first-stage turbine to expand and do work, thereby increasing the instantaneous power of the power generation system.
10. The power generation method according to claim 9, characterized in that, During normal power generation, the electromagnetic reversing valve works normally, and the liquid water on the intercooler side flows into the collection tank for collection after heat exchange.