Reactor Core

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Revision as of 07:26, 6 August 2024 by Hev (talk | contribs) (edit adding section related to manufactures, future edit needed to list manufacturer-specific cores)

Description

Reactor cores are specialised containment vessels designed to facilitate controlled fission, and are usually reinforced with strong, heat-resistant materials to contain the associated high pressures and temperatures.

Nuclear propulsion systems utilise the energy created by reactor cores to heat and accelerate propellant, which also acts as a coolant during periods of high thermal load. Radiator panels mounted to the outer hull of a spacecraft help to cool the core when it's not being used, or when it's too hot.

If a reactor becomes too hot, the ship's computer will attempt to bleed off heat by venting it through the RCS thrusters. At higher temperatures, thrusters are more powerful, turbines and magnetoplasmadynamic electrical generators produce more power, and more thermal energy is immediately available for manoeuvring, but thrusters will wear out faster and turbines may experience galling, reducing their long-term effectiveness.

If a reactor reaches its failure temperature and continues to heat up, the core will lose structural integrity and experience an explosive meltdown, destroying the ship it's attached to and releasing radioactive materials into the environment. Some eagle-eyed pilots you encounter are able to detect the residues these materials leave on nearby ringroids, which is often indicative of pirate activity.

Manufactured Reactor Types

Currently, two different manufacturers produce reactor cores.

Rusatom-Antonoff produce a series of liquid thorium SO6 "sunshard" reactor rods, held within a solid shell. These cores yield a high operating temp. of 3,500 Kelvin.


Nakamura Dynamics produce a line of Yama cores utilise rapidly spinning drums of uranium, where the propellant is made into direct contact with the fission material. Contamination is prevented with the use of proper safety measures.

Full Comparison List

Reactor Cores
Name Manufacturer Operating Temperature Failure Point Thermal Power Mass Price
4x SO6 fuel rod Rusatom-Antonoff 3,500 K 4,500 K 4 GW 2,000 kg 80,000 E$
8x SO6 fuel rod Rusatom-Antonoff 3,500 K 4,500 K 8 GW 4,000 kg 160,000 E$
12x SO6 fuel rod Rusatom-Antonoff 3,500 K 4,500 K 12 GW 6,000 kg 240,000 E$
16x SO6 fuel rod Rusatom-Antonoff 3,500 K 4,500 K 16 GW 8,000 kg 320,000 E$
20x SO6 fuel rod Rusatom-Antonoff 3,500 K 4,500 K 20 GW 10,000 kg 400,000 E$
Nakamura Dynamics Yama-SSR12 Nakamura Dynamics 3,000 K 4,500 K 30 GW 5,000 kg 750,000 E$
Nakamura Dynamics Yama-SSR16 Nakamura Dynamics 3,000 K 4,500 K 40 GW 5,500 kg 1,000,000 E$
Nakamura Dynamics Yama-SSR16S Nakamura Dynamics 3,000 K 4,500 K 50 GW 6,000 kg 1,500,000 E$