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100-WATT CURIUM-242 FUELED THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR--CONCEPTUAL DESIGN. SNAP Subtask 5.7 Final Report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4064170· OSTI ID:4064170
A thermoelectric generator which produces 100 watts of electrical power continuously over a six-month operational life in a space environment was designed. It employs the heat produced by the decay of Cm/sup 24/ as the source of power. Uniform output over the operational life of the generator is accomplished by means of a thermally actuated shutter which maintains the hot junction temperature of the thermoelectric conventer at a constunt figure by varying the amount of surplus heat which is radiated directly to space from the heat source. The isotopic heat source is designed to safely contain the Cm/sup 242/ under conditions of launch pad abont and rocket failure, but to burn up upon re-entry to the earth's atmosphere from orbital velocity. (W.L.H.)
Research Organization:
Martin Co. Nuclear Div., Baltimore
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AT(30-3)-217
NSA Number:
NSA-15-014050
OSTI ID:
4064170
Report Number(s):
MND-P-2342
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English