Thulium heat source for high-endurance and high-energy density power systems
We are studying the performance characteristics of radioisotope heat source designs for high-endurance and high-energy-density power systems that use thulium-170. Heat sources in the power range of 5--50 kW{sub th} coupled with a power conversion efficiency of {approximately}30%, can easily satisfy current missions for autonomous underwater vehicles. New naval missions will be possible because thulium isotope power systems have a factor of one-to-two hundred higher endurance and energy density than chemical and electrochemical systems. Thulium-170 also has several other attractive features, including the fact that it decays to stable ytterbium-170 with a half-life of four months. For terrestrial applications, refueling on that time scale should be acceptable in view of the advantage of its benign decay. The heat source designs we are studying account for the requirements of isotope production, shielding, and integration with power conversion components. These requirements are driven by environmental and safety considerations. Thulium is present in the form of thin refractory thulia disks that allow power conversion at high peak temperature. We give estimates of power system state points, performance, mass, and volume characteristics. Monte Carlo radiation analysis provides a detailed assessment of shield requirements and heat transfer under normal and distressed conditions is also considered. 11 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5360904
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-105761; CONF-910801-23; ON: DE91018991
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 26. intersociety energy conversion engineering (IECE) conference, Boston, MA (United States), 3-9 Aug 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
DESIGN
THULIUM 170
EFFICIENCY
POWER RANGE 01-10 KW
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
POWER SUPPLIES
SUBMARINES
THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONVERSION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
HEAT SOURCES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
KILOWATT POWER RANGE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
POWER RANGE
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE EARTH ISOTOPES
RARE EARTH NUCLEI
SHIPS
THULIUM ISOTOPES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies