A compendium of the radioisotope thermoelectric generator transportation system and recent programmatic changes

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:240432

Becker, D L; McCoy, J C

Because RTGs contain significant quantities of radioactive materials, usually plutonium-238 and its decay products, they must be transported in packages built in accordance with 10 CFR 71 (1994). To meet these regulatory requirements, US DOE commissioned Westinghouse Hanford Co. in 1988 to develop a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transportation System (RTGTS) that would fully comply while protecting RTGs from adverse environmental conditions during normal transport conditions (eg, mainly shock and heat). RTGTS is scheduled for completion Dec. 1996 and will be available to support NASA`s Cassini mission to Saturn in Oct. 1997. This paper provides an overview of the RTGTS project, discusses the hardware being produced, and summarizes various programmatic and management innovations required by recent changes at DOE.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-87RL10930
• OSTI ID: 240432
• Report Number(s): WHC-SA--2980; CONF-960706--12; ON: DE96009891
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
REGULATIONS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS