Energy Density of Water as CNO Nuclear Fuel

1Water Energy Density as CNO Nuclear Fuel

2Water

Water is an incredibly useful fluid. It has excellent thermal and chemical properties. In particular, when it comes to starships:

• Water has a significant density of hydrogen molecules, making it effective as a cosmic ray shield.
• Water has excellent thermal properties, making it suitable as a thermal exchange fluid at low or intermediate temperatures, from 0[C°] to 600 [C°]
• Water is a fundamental requirement of life and is needed for cultures growth and crew survival
• Water is a dense source of hydrogen and actually has a much better volumetric density than just hydrogen gas due to the fact its liquid at ambient temperatures.
• Water contain oxygen, which is another fundamental requirement for life.
• Water can be split in oxygen and hydrogen, forming the most energy dense chemical rocket fuel known.

3Problem

Power sources are a problem for starship due to the high energy densities required.

Hydrogen is very energy dense if used as nuclear fuel in nuclear fusion.

4Objective

Water is used as source of Hydrogen in a CNO thermal fusion generator.
Water is liquid at ambient temperature, meaning it can be a dense source of Hydrogen atoms.
Water can also works as thermal exchange fluid and inertial confinement.

Compute the energy density of water when used as nuclear fusion fuel.

5Calculations

5.1Energy Density of Hydrogen as CNO Nuclear Fuel

First step is to compute the energy density of Hydrogen itself. Target power generation mechanism is the CNO fusion cycle.

5.2Density of Hydrogen in Water

Next step is to compute the density of hydrogen atoms in water in standard conditions.

5.3Energy Density of Water as CNO Nuclear Fuel

The final step is to use energy density of hydrogen and density of hydrogen in water to compute the energy density of water as CNO nuclear fuel

5.5Liquid Hydrogen

Liquid hydrogen is the most obvious source of Hydrogen atoms.

Liquid hydrogen is much harder to contain and store, and is highly flammable being a chemical fuel with the highest energy density known. It's an unsafe substance to store.

Compute liquid hydrogen energy density as CNO nuclear fuel for comparison.

6Conclusions

Hydrogen is hugely energy dense as CNO nuclear fuel.

Liquid hydrogen is highly unstable and difficult to safely store and use.

Water still has an extremely high energy density if used as nuclear fuel in a CNO nuclear fusion cycle with the advantage of much easier storage methods.