Post-encapsulation plutonia reduction for Galileo and Ulysses GPHS modules: The Module Reduction and Monitoring Facility (MRMF)

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6262641

Johnson, E W ^[1]

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1. Lamb Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD (USA)

In heat source systems of the type C/Ir/PuO{sub 2}, ingrowth of CO and CO{sub 2} is evident. This is due to a cyclical reaction between the C and PuO{sub 2} constituents. Gas tap results show that repeated exchanges using a pure inert gas backfill reduces the CO/CO{sub 2} ingrowth rate. Also, the temperature experienced during Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) processing reduces further the effect such that normal RTG storage temperatures do not result in this deleterious effect. A 36-station vacuum/inert gas manifold has been developed at Mound Facility to serve as a Module Reduction and Monitoring Facility (MRMF) for up to 68 GPHS-type heat source modules. This method of storage effectively prevented atmospheric contamination of modules while reducing the CO/CO{sub 2} ingrowth rate. This paper describes in detail the theoretical, practical, facility, and quality/reliability aspects of this processing facility that has supported the Galileo and Ulysses RTG programs. 5 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: EG and G Mound Applied Technologies, Miamisburg, OH (USA); Lamb Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-88DP43495
• OSTI ID: 6262641
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116-20; ON: DE91008131
• Resource Relation: Conference: 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (USA), 6-10 Jan 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
SPACE VEHICLES
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
ENCAPSULATION
SPACE FLIGHT
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
HEAT SOURCES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
VEHICLES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300303* - Thermoelectric Generators- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
300304 - Thermoelectric Generators- Applications