Abstract
This is the last in a series of papers on the effectiveness of using magnetohydrodynamically driven vortices to contain uranium in a gas core nuclear propulsion system. This paper evaluates the overall system performance, with particular focus on optimizing the power conversion system that supplies electrical power to the magnetohydrodynamic drive. The system is unique in that it is essentially nuclear thermal, however, it requires a large recirculation of electrical power. Although the assumed power conversion system is thermodynamic (Brayton) it is shown that this conversion can be accomplished either with a greatly reduced radiator area or, under some circumstances, without the need for radiators at all, by sinking waste heat into the propellant stream. A baseline set of system parameters is presented.