Radioisotope thermoelectric generator licensed hardware package and certification tests
- Westinghouse Hanford Company, P.O. Box 1970, M/S R3-86 or N1-32, Richland, Washington 99352 (United States)
This paper presents the Licensed Hardware package and the Certification Test portions of the Radioisitope Themoelectric Generator Transportation System. This package has been designed to meet those portions of the {ital Code} {ital of} {ital Federal} {ital Regulations} (10 CFR 71) relating to ``Type B`` shipments of radioactive materials. The licensed hardware is now in the U. S. Department of Energy licensing process that certifies the packaging`s integrity under accident conditions. The detailed information for the anticipated license is presented in the safety analysis report for packaging, which is now in process and undergoing necessary reviews. As part of the licensing process, a full-size Certification Test Article unit, which has modifications slightly different than the Licensed Hardware or production shipping units, is used for testing. Dimensional checks of the Certification Test Article were made at the manufacturing facility. Leak testing and drop testing were done at the 300 Area of the U.S. Department of Energy`s Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. The hardware includes independent double containments to prevent the environmental spread of {sup 238}Pu, impact limiting devices to protect portions of the package from impacts, and thermal insulation to protect the seal areas from excess heat during accident conditions. The package also features electronic feed-throughs to monitor the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator`s temperature inside the containment during the shipment cycle. This package is designed to safely dissipate the typical 4,500 thermal watts produced in the largest Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators. The package also contains provisions to ensure leak tightness when radioactive materials, such as a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator for the Cassini Mission, planned for 1997 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, are being prepared for shipment. (Abstract Truncated)
- Research Organization:
- Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 102091
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950110-; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 95:019457
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 324, Issue 1; Conference: 12. symposium on space nuclear power and propulsion, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 8-12 Jan 1995; Other Information: PBD: 20 Jan 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PACKAGING
DESIGN
CERTIFICATION
ELECTRICAL TESTING
IMPACT TESTS
LEAK TESTING
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
SAFETY ENGINEERING
THERMAL TESTING
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
TRANSPORT REGULATIONS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems