Pinellas Plant facts. [Products, processes, laboratory facilities]
This plant was built in 1956 in response to a need for the manufacture of neutron generators, a principal component in nuclear weapons. The neutron generators consist of a miniaturized linear ion accelerator assembled with the pulsed electrical power supplies required for its operation. The ion accelerator, or neutron tube, requires ultra clean, high vacuum technology: hermetic seals between glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic, and metal materials: plus high voltage generation and measurement technology. The existence of these capabilities at the Pinellas Plant has led directly to the assignment of the lightning arrester connector, specialty capacitor, vacuum switch, and crystal resonator. Active and reserve batteries and the radioisotopically-powered thermoelectric generator draw on the materials measurement and controls technologies which are required to ensure neutron generator life. A product development and production capability in alumina ceramics, cermet (electrical) feedthroughs, and glass ceramics has become a specialty of the plant; the laboratories monitor the materials and processes used by the plant's commercial suppliers of ferroelectric ceramics. In addition to the manufacturing facility, a production development capability is maintained at the Pinellas Plant.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., St. Petersburg, FL (USA). Neutron Devices Dept.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00656
- OSTI ID:
- 6419842
- Report Number(s):
- GEPP-CB-986; ON: DE87013100
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
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Fabrication & Operation
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450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
ACCELERATORS
ACCELEROMETERS
CAPACITORS
CERAMICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENCAPSULATION
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
IONS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LIGHTNING ARRESTERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALLURGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NEUTRON SOURCES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PARTICLE SOURCES
PINELLAS PLANT
PRODUCTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
RESONATORS
THERMAL BATTERIES
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEAPONS