ENHANCED THERMAL VACUUM TEST CAPABILITY FOR RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEMS AT THE IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY BETTER SIMULATES ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF SPACE

Conference · Wed Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 2012

OSTI ID:1044199

Giglio, J C; Jackson, A A

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is preparing to fuel and test the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), the next generation space power generator. The INL identified the thermal vacuum test chamber used to test past generators as inadequate. A second vacuum chamber was upgraded with a thermal shroud to process the unique needs and to test the full power capability of the new generator. The thermal vacuum test chamber is the first of its kind capable of testing a fueled power system to temperature that accurately simulate space. This paper outlines the new test and set up capabilities at the INL.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1044199
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-11-23925
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ASRG
Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator
IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER SYSTEMS
RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS
RADIOISOTOPES
Radioisotope Power System (RPS)
SHROUDS
Space Power
TESTING
Thermal Vacuum