100-WATT RADIOSTRONTIUM GENERATOR FOR LAND-AND SEA-BASED APPLICATIONS. HAZARDS SUMMARY REPORT
The radiostrontium generator produces 100 electrical watts from radioactive beta decay energy which is converted thermoelectrically. The fuel is 320 kilocuries of strontium-90 with a half-life of 28 years for the land- based concept and 280 kilocuries for the sea based version. The fuel form is strontium metatitanate (SrTiO/sub 3/), a relatively insoluble, chemically stable compound. The fuel pellets are enclosed in a fuel container placed in a multivessel containment. The land-based concept uses 120 pairs of lead telluride thermoelectric elements and the sea-based one uses 132. These are placed against a heat accumulator and operate at hot junction temperatures of 529 and 512 deg C in air, respectively. The cold junction temperatures sre 140 and 123 deg C, respectively. At present, Strontium-90 is a nuclear waste material derived from spent reactor fuel that is processed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Strontium titanate is made by stoichiometrically compounding strontium with titania, sintering and pelletizing at 5 tsi pressure. Solubility studies of strontium titanate have indicated relative insolubility. Biological shielding against the direct radiation of the heat source is provided by a Hastelloy C shield which also serves as an outer containment vessel. Ihe fuel emits beta, x and gamma radiation. The prototype generator will supply power for an unattended marine power source and various land applications. The precautions against radiation exposure inherent in the generator are multiple containment, biological shielding, and an insoluble fuel. The generator is designed within the framework of all credible accidents. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Martin Co. Nuclear Div., Baltimore
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-017153
- OSTI ID:
- 4018394
- Report Number(s):
- MND-SR-2308
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BETA PARTICLES
BIOLOGY
BURNUP
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAMMA RADIATION
GENERATORS
HALF-LIFE
HASTELLOY
HEALTH AND SAFETY
JUNCTIONS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
OPERATION
PELLETS
POWER
PRESSURE
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOCHEMISTRY
SAFETY
SHIELDING
SINTERING
SOLUBILITY
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
STANDARDS
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM COMPOUNDS
TELLURIDES
TEMPERATURE
THERMOELECTRIC CELLS
THERMOELECTRICITY
TITANATES
TITANIUM OXIDES
VESSELS
X RADIATION