Environmental assessment of general-purpose heat source safety verification testing

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/28296· OSTI ID:28296

This Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared to identify and evaluate potential environmental, safety, and health impacts associated with the Proposed Action to test General-Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) assemblies at the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) 10,000-Foot Sled Track Facility, Albuquerque, New Mexico. RTGs are used to provide a reliable source of electrical power on board some spacecraft when solar power is inadequate during long duration space missions. These units are designed to convert heat from the natural decay of radioisotope fuel into electrical power. Impact test data are required to support DOE`s mission to provide radioisotope power systems to NASA and other user agencies. The proposed tests will expand the available safety database regarding RTG performance under postulated accident conditions. Direct observations and measurements of GPHS/RTG performance upon impact with hard, unyielding surfaces are required to verify model predictions and to ensure the continual evolution of the RTG designs that perform safely under varied accident environments. The Proposed Action is to conduct impact testing of RTG sections containing GPHS modules with simulated fuel. End-On and Side-On impact test series are planned.

• Research Organization: USDOE Albuquerque Operations Office, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 28296
• Report Number(s): DOE/EA-1025; ON: DE95008199; NC: NONE; TRN: 95:008455
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCE TECHNOLOGY
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
29 ENERGY PLANNING AND POLICY
SANDIA LABORATORIES
TEST FACILITIES
RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES
IMPACT TESTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
RADIATION HAZARDS
COMPILED DATA
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems