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Title: An overview of the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transporation System Program

Abstract

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG) convert the heat generated by radioactive decay to electricity using thermocouples. RTGs have a long operating life, are reasonably lightweight, and require little or no maintenance once assembled and tested. These factors make RTGs particularly attractive for use in spacecraft However, because RTGs contain significant quantities of radioactive materials, normally plutonium-238 and its decay products, they must be transported in packages built in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 71. The US Department of Energy assigned the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transportation System (RTGTS) Program to Westinghouse Hanford Company in 1988 to develop a system meeting the regulatory requirements. The program objective was to develop a transportation system that would fully comply with 10 CFR 71 while protecting RTGs from adverse environmental conditions during normal conditions of transport (e.g., shock and heat). The RTGTS is scheduled for completion in December 1996 and will be available to support the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations Cassini mission to Saturn in October 1997. This paper provides an overview of the RTGTS and discusses the hardware being produced. Additionally, various program management innovations mandated by recent ma or changes in the US Department of Energy structure and resourcesmore » will be outlined.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
168371
Report Number(s):
WHC-SA-2975; CONF-960109-10
ON: DE96003113; TRN: 96:003074
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-87RL10930
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: STAIF 96: space technology and applications international forum, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 7-11 Jan 1996; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; PLUTONIUM 238; PACKAGING; FABRICATION; DESIGN; ALPHA DECAY; WASTE TRANSPORTATION; RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems

Citation Formats

McCoy, J C. An overview of the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transporation System Program. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
McCoy, J C. An overview of the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transporation System Program. United States.
McCoy, J C. 1995. "An overview of the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transporation System Program". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/168371.
@article{osti_168371,
title = {An overview of the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transporation System Program},
author = {McCoy, J C},
abstractNote = {Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTG) convert the heat generated by radioactive decay to electricity using thermocouples. RTGs have a long operating life, are reasonably lightweight, and require little or no maintenance once assembled and tested. These factors make RTGs particularly attractive for use in spacecraft However, because RTGs contain significant quantities of radioactive materials, normally plutonium-238 and its decay products, they must be transported in packages built in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 71. The US Department of Energy assigned the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Transportation System (RTGTS) Program to Westinghouse Hanford Company in 1988 to develop a system meeting the regulatory requirements. The program objective was to develop a transportation system that would fully comply with 10 CFR 71 while protecting RTGs from adverse environmental conditions during normal conditions of transport (e.g., shock and heat). The RTGTS is scheduled for completion in December 1996 and will be available to support the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations Cassini mission to Saturn in October 1997. This paper provides an overview of the RTGTS and discusses the hardware being produced. Additionally, various program management innovations mandated by recent ma or changes in the US Department of Energy structure and resources will be outlined.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/168371}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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