Interaction of an iridium-clad RTG heat source unit with a simulated terrestrial environment. [/sup 238/PuO/sub 2/]

doi:https://doi.org/10.2172/7284823

Title: Interaction of an iridium-clad RTG heat source unit with a simulated terrestrial environment. [/sup 238/PuO/sub 2/]

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Abstract

An iridium-clad, 100-W /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ sphere, a prototype for the multihundred-watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator, was exposed for 1 y to a simulated temperate humid climate in an environmental test chamber containing sandy soil. The hot sphere sank into the soil after the first rain, then gradually acquired a hard crust around it as a result of the rainwater reacting with the hot soil during successive rains. Time and temperature profiles of the sphere were recorded during the weekly rains, and the air and rainwater that percolated through the soil were monitored for plutonium. No plutonium was released from the sphere. Aside from the crust formation, very little reaction occurred between the hot iridium shell and the soil.

Authors:: Patterson, J H; Herrera, B; Nelson, G B; Matlack, G M; Waterbury, G R

Publication Date:: 1976-02-01

Research Org.:: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)

OSTI Identifier:: 7284823

Report Number(s):: LA-6255
TRN: 76-014276

DOE Contract Number:: W-7405-ENG-36

Resource Type:: Technical Report

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; PLUTONIUM 238; RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES; IMPACT TESTS; SAFETY; CAPSULES; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; IRIDIUM; PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE; TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS; THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS; ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS; ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; ACTINIDE NUCLEI; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; CHALCOGENIDES; CONTAINERS; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ECOSYSTEMS; ELEMENTS; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; HEAT SOURCES; HEAVY NUCLEI; ISOTOPES; MATERIALS TESTING; MECHANICAL TESTS; METALS; NUCLEI; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PLATINUM METALS; PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS; PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES; PLUTONIUM OXIDES; RADIOISOTOPES; REFRACTORY METALS; TESTING; TRANSITION ELEMENTS; TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies; 300300 - Thermoelectric Generators

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                    Patterson, J H, Herrera, B, Nelson, G B, Matlack, G M, and Waterbury, G R. Interaction of an iridium-clad RTG heat source unit with a simulated terrestrial environment. [/sup 238/PuO/sub 2/].  United States: N. p., 1976. 
        Web.  doi:10.2172/7284823.

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                    Patterson, J H, Herrera, B, Nelson, G B, Matlack, G M, & Waterbury, G R. Interaction of an iridium-clad RTG heat source unit with a simulated terrestrial environment. [/sup 238/PuO/sub 2/].  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/7284823

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                    Patterson, J H, Herrera, B, Nelson, G B, Matlack, G M, and Waterbury, G R. Sun .  
        "Interaction of an iridium-clad RTG heat source unit with a simulated terrestrial environment. [/sup 238/PuO/sub 2/]".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/7284823.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7284823.

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@article{osti_7284823,

  title        = {Interaction of an iridium-clad RTG heat source unit with a simulated terrestrial environment. [/sup 238/PuO/sub 2/]},

  author       = {Patterson, J H and Herrera, B and Nelson, G B and Matlack, G M and Waterbury, G R},

  abstractNote = {An iridium-clad, 100-W /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ sphere, a prototype for the multihundred-watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator, was exposed for 1 y to a simulated temperate humid climate in an environmental test chamber containing sandy soil. The hot sphere sank into the soil after the first rain, then gradually acquired a hard crust around it as a result of the rainwater reacting with the hot soil during successive rains. Time and temperature profiles of the sphere were recorded during the weekly rains, and the air and rainwater that percolated through the soil were monitored for plutonium. No plutonium was released from the sphere. Aside from the crust formation, very little reaction occurred between the hot iridium shell and the soil.},

  doi          = {10.2172/7284823},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7284823},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {1976},

  month        = {2}

}

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