General-Purpose Heat Source Safety Verification Test series: SVT-7 through SVT-10

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6408298· OSTI ID:6408298

George, T G; Pavone, D

The General-Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) is a modular component of the radioisotope thermoelectric generator that will supply power for the Galileo and Ulysses (formerly ISPM) space missions. The GPHS provides power by transmitting the heat of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ ..cap alpha..-decay to an array of thermoelectric elements. Because the possibility of an orbital abort always exists, the heat source was designed and constructed to minimize plutonia release in any accident environment. The Safety Verification Test (SVT) series was formulated to evaluate the effectiveness of GPHS plutonia containment after atmospheric reentry and Earth impact. The first report (covering SVT-1 through SVT-6) described the results of flat and side-on module impacts. This report describes module impacts at angles of 15/sup 0/ and 30/sup 0/.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6408298
• Report Number(s): LA-10408-MS; ON: DE86003282
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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