Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

General purpose heat source task group. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5913442· OSTI ID:5913442
The results of thermal analyses and impact tests on a modified design of a /sup 238/Pu-fueled general purpose heat source (GPHS) for spacecraft power supplies are presented. This work was performed to establish the safety of a heat source with pyrolytic graphite insulator shells located either inside or outside the graphite impact shell. This safety is dependent on the degree of aerodynamic heating of the heat source during reentry and on the ability of the heat source capsule to withstand impact after reentry. Analysis of wind tunnel and impact test data result in a recommended GPHS design which should meet all temperature and safety requirements. Further wind tunnel tests, drop tests, and impact tests are recommended to verify the safety of this design. (LCL)
Research Organization:
General Electric Co., Philadelphia, PA (USA). Valley Forge Space Center
DOE Contract Number:
AC01-79ET32043
OSTI ID:
5913442
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/32043-T15; ON: DE81024218
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English