CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A SNAP III TYPE GENERATOR FUELED WITH CERIUM-144

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1960

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4097610· OSTI ID:4097610

Wilson, R J

A design concept is presented for an electrical system using two SNAP III type generators fueled with cerium. In the modified SNAP III generator, a capsule of Haynes 25 contains 9725 curies of cerium oxide pellets, which will provide 67 thermal watts at time of launch. Sufficient void volume and capsule strength ensure containment of the oxygen evolved through isotops decay during the operational life of the generator. Thermal converter configuration in the conceptual generator is identical to that of the SNAP III except that the shell is stainless steel. Two methods of biological shielding are considered. The first uses mercury contained in a sphere surrounding the generator. In the second concept, a lead cask shields the unit until its installation in the launch vehicle. A remote installation procedure and an equipment arrangement are proposed. Generator output predictions were based on actual test data. The output of a single unit would be 3.8 watts at launch, decreasing to 1.9 watts in the course of a 6-month mission. A groundhandling procedure and conceptual designs of the equipment are included. (auth)

• Research Organization: Martin Co. Nuclear Div., Baltimore
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-3)-217
• NSA Number: NSA-15-009539
• OSTI ID: 4097610
• Report Number(s): MND-P-2369
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CAPSULES
CERIUM 144
CERIUM OXIDES
CONFIGURATION
CONVERSION
DECAY
ELECTRICITY
FUEL CANS
GENERATORS
ISOTOPES
LEAD
MERCURY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
OPERATION
OXYGEN
PELLETS
PHYSICS
PLANNING
POWER
RADIOACTIVITY
REMOTE HANDLING
SHELLS
SHIELDING
SHIELDING MATERIALS
SPACE VEHICLES
SPHERES
STAINLESS STEELS
VOLUME