• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.3644-3653
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• 2024

Enhancing the capabilities of unmanned space exploration, such as satellite monitoring and space science missions, requires efficient and reliable nuclear power systems. A viable solution is found in the 1-10 kWe power level of space nuclear reactor power systems, offering advantages such as a manageable research and development process, and relatively low investment requirements. This paper introduces a conceptual design for a 5 kWe space nuclear reactor power system, outlining its components and characteristics. The study includes a thorough analysis of potential challenges, encompassing heat pipe failure accidents, re-entry scenarios, and weight estimation considerations. The results demonstrate that the proposed space nuclear reactor power system effectively meets the safety requirements. The total mass of the power system is estimated at approximately 1.5 tons, with a specific mass of around 300 kg/kWe. This research contributes valuable insights for the design of space nuclear reactor power systems operating within a similar power range.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.30.2-30.2
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• 2011

In this report, we present in-orbit radiometric performance prediction for the Amon-Ra (Albedo Monitor and Radiometer) energy channel instrument. The Integrated Ray Tracing (IRT) computational technique uses the ray sets arriving at the Amon-Ra instrument aperture orbiting around the L1 halo orbit. Using this, the variation of flux arriving at the energy channel detector was obtained when the Amon-Ra instrument including the energy channel design observes the Sun and Earth alternately. The flux detectability was verified at the energy channel detector (LME-500-A, InfraTecTM). The detector time response and RMS signal voltage were then derived from the simulated flux variation results. The computation results demonstrate that the designed energy channel optical system satisfies the in-orbit detectability requirement. The technical details of energy channel instrument design, IRT model construction, radiative transfer simulation and output signal computation results are presented together with future development plan.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2013

Tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) can measure the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectrum and calculate the equivalent dose for the complicated radiation field in space. In this paper, we developed and characterized a TEPC for radiation monitoring in International Space Station (ISS). The prototype TEPC which can simulate a 2 ${\mu}m$ of the site diameter for micro-dosimetry has been tested with a standard alpha source ($^{241}Am$, 5.5 MeV). Also, the calibration of the TEPC was performed by the $^{252}Cf$ neutron standard source in Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS). The determined calibration factor was $k_f=3.59{\times}10^{-7}$ mSv/R.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.73-80
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze daylighting performance in a semi-infinite size office space for lighting energy conservation. DOE2.1E was used for simulations for the model space of $12\times12\times2.6m$. Nomographs were developed which could simulate work plane illuminance, glare index, energy consumption rate and energy reduction rate for daylighting design. Major results of simulations are as follows ; 1) When blinds facing south were installed, 43% of workplane illuminance diminished, but the flare index didn't exceed the recommended max-glare value. 2) In a semi-infinite office space facing south. energy consumption rate in the case space of 500 lux workplane illuminance is larger then case space of 300 lux workplane illuminance. Therefore, energy reduction rate is increased when the semi-infinite office faces south and naintains 300 lux workplane illuminance level.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.343-349
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• 2012

The solar proton telescope (SPT) is considered as one of the scientific instruments to be installed in instruments for the study of space storm (ISSS) which is determined for next generation small satellite-1 (NEXTSat-1). The SPT is the instrument that acquires the information on energetic particles, especially the energy and flux of proton, according to the solar activity in the space radiation environment. We performed the simulation to determine the specification of the SPT using geometry and tracking 4 (GEANT4). The simulation was performed in the range of 0.6-1,000 MeV considering that the proton, which is to be detected, corresponds to the high energy region according to the solar activity in the space radiation environment. By using aluminum as a blocking material and adjusting the energy detection range, we determined total 7 channels (0.6~5, 5~10, 10~20, 20~35, 35~52, 52~72, and >72 MeV) for the energy range of SPT. In the SPT, the proton energy was distinguished using linear energy transfer to compare with or discriminate from relativistic electron for the channels P1-P3 which are the range of less than 20 MeV, and above those channels, the energy was determined on the basis of whether silicon semiconductor detector (SSD) signal can pass or not. To determine the optimal channel, we performed the conceptual design of payload which uses the SSD. The designed SPT will improve the understanding on the capture and decline of solar energetic particles at the radiation belt by measuring the energetic proton.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2013

It has long been known that the magnetospheric particles can precipitate into the atmosphere of the Earth. In this paper we examine such precipitation of energetic electrons using the data obtained from low-altitude polar orbiting satellite observations. We analyze the precipitating electron flux data for many periods selected from a total of 84 storm events identified for 2001-2012. The analysis includes the dependence of precipitation on the Kp index and the electron energy, for which we use three energies E1 > 30 keV, E2 > 100 keV, E3 > 300 keV. We find that the precipitation is best correlated with Kp after a time delay of < 3 hours. Most importantly, the correlation with Kp is notably tighter for lower energy than for higher energy in the sense that the lower energy precipitation flux increases more rapidly with Kp than does the higher energy precipitation flux. Based on this we suggest that the Kp index reflects excitation of a wave that is responsible for scattering of preferably lower energy electrons. The role of waves of other types should become increasingly important for higher energy, for which we suggest to rely on other indicators than Kp if one can identify such an indicator.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.43.3-43.3
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• 2009

Our previous study showed the intensity of the long LBH (1600 - 1715 ${\AA}$) was enhanced very much compared to that of the short LBH (1400 - 1500 ${\AA}$) when the characteristic energy of the precipitating electrons increased from 1 keV to > 7 keV, in accordance with the theoretical models. In this presentation, we would like to present the results of our study for new modeling results about previous report and even higher energy electrons. We selected the events in which the fluxes both in the low energy (100 eV ~ 20 keV) and in the high energy (170 ~ 360 keV) were enhanced, and examined the auroral spectra for these events observed simultaneously by the imaging spectrograph on the same spacecraft. While the accurate characteristic energy could not be determined because of the gap in the energy range, our result showed the intensity ratio of the long LBH to the short LBH ranged from 1.2 to 2.0 in these events, in contrast to 1.0 or smaller for the events in which the highest enhancement was seen only in the low energy. Our study suggests that intense auroras might be accompanied by high energy electrons above 20 keV.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.579-587
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• 2017

Spaceborne cryocoolers produce undesirable micro-vibration disturbances during their on-orbit operation, which are a primary source of image-quality degradation for high-resolution observation satellites. Therefore, to comply with the strict mission requirement of high-quality image acquisition, micro-vibration disturbances induced by cooler operation have always been subjected to an isolation objective. However, in this study, we focused on the applicability of energy harvesting technology to generate electrical energy from micro-vibration energy of the cooler and investigated the feasibility of utilizing harvested energy as a power source to operate low-power-consumption devices such as micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices. A tuned mass damper (TMD)-type electromagnetic energy harvester combined with a conventional passive vibration isolator was proposed to achieve this objective. The system performs the dual functions of electrical energy generation and micro-vibration isolation. The effectiveness of the strategy was evaluated through numerical simulations.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.37-40
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• 2002

Astronauts are constantly exposed to space radiation at a low-dose rate during long-tenn stays in space. Therefore, it is important to determine correctly the biological effects of space radiation on human health. Space radiations contain various kinds of different energy particles, especially high linear energy transfer (LET) particles. Therefore, we have to study the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of space radiation under microgravity environment which may change RBE from a stress for cells. Furthermore, the research about space radiation might give us useful information about birth and evolution of life on the earth. We also can realize the importance of preventing the ozone layer from depletion by use of exposure equipment to sunlight at International Space Station (ISS).

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.41-46
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• 2008

Owing to a space covered by glass, atrium is an attractive space with a possibility as an inner public space but a typical building type with a high-energy load. From the aspect of global environmental issues, to reduce energy load is an important assignment to solve. Contriving a planning guideline of an opening is considered as the most effective environment adjustment method, to offer a highly assessed amenity space and secure openness to outside, keep the energy load to a minimum, and apply the natural energy such as daylight to a maximum at the same time. Users' assessment of environment was performed by questionnaire survey, then the structure of users' assessment was analyzed and design condition was regulated by multiple regression analysis. The opening design guideline to offer a highly assessed space was proposed with concrete environment adjustment method.