Air-Portable Nuclear Reactor

[TWT]

One limitation is that these portable reactors need to be sited close to a large body of water.

That will restrict the deployment options significantly.

[topgas]

The Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion had a 1 megawatt reactor flying 1955-1957 in the Convair NB36-H. The crew section was lead and rubber lined and weighed 11 tons. Although cancelled, the research fed into NASA nuclear generators and reactors.

[NutLoose]

Well the Russians were quite happy to use small reactors to power their remote unmanned lighthouses.

http://englishrussia.com/2009/01/06/...r-lighthouses/

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/se...-remote-arctic

[NutLoose]

Reading the article it mentions the crystals used to power the ships in Star Trek as the operation they are involved in, as they have now proved the concept of the Ion engine, I wonder if it is to scale up the idea as sufficient electrical power appears to be an issue with the ion engine.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...-moving-parts/

[ORAC]

So you reckon the DoD has got their hands on a pile of dilithium crystals?

[Fitter2]

One limitation is that these portable reactors need to be sited close to a large body of water.

That will restrict the deployment options significantly.

Why? The likely design is a natural convection sealed water moderator/cooler. Worst case total loss of coolant also removes the moderator, so shuts down the reactor; secondary fission in a reactor that size doesn't lead to meltdown. That's why one of the proposals for future civilian nuclear power generator is an array of modular reactors; inherently safe and highly redundant.

[KenV]

Originally Posted by TWT

One limitation is that these portable reactors need to be sited close to a large body of water.
That will restrict the deployment options significantly.

Ummm please read the RFI, which is posted above (Post #9). The fourth bullet states:
Ultimate heat sink: Ambient Air, capable of passive cooling