General-Purpose Heat Source development: Safety Verification Test Program. Bullet/fragment test series
The radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) that will provide power for space missions contains 18 General-Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules. Each module contains four /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/-fueled clads and generates 250 W/sub (t)/. Because a launch-pad or post-launch explosion is always possible, we need to determine the ability of GPHS fueled clads within a module to survive fragment impact. The bullet/fragment test series, part of the Safety Verification Test Plan, was designed to provide information on clad response to impact by a compact, high-energy, aluminum-alloy fragment and to establish a threshold value of fragment energy required to breach the iridium cladding. Test results show that a velocity of 555 m/s (1820 ft/s) with an 18-g bullet is at or near the threshold value of fragment velocity that will cause a clad breach. Results also show that an exothermic Ir/Al reaction occurs if aluminum and hot iridium are in contact, a contact that is possible and most damaging to the clad within a narrow velocity range. The observed reactions between the iridium and the aluminum were studied in the laboratory and are reported in the Appendix.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5630016
- Report Number(s):
- LA-10364-MS; ON: DE85014262
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
IMPACT TESTS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
EXPLOSIONS
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HEAT SOURCES
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL TESTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
POWER SUPPLIES
TESTING
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies