Thermodynamic study of the MWG system/components and measurement of the oxygen partial pressure in the heat source capsule
A thermodynamic study of the Milliwatt Generator heat source capsule was performed to determine the effects of the oxide fuel on container materials at elevated temperatures in order to evaluate the factors affecting embrittlement of T-111 alloy. The study indicates that relatively slow oxidation of the T-111 of the capsule occurs during pretreatment. Yttrium added to the /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ fuel charge is functioning in its designed role as an oxygen getter and is stabilizing at an O/Pu ratio of 1.75. The free energy of formation of hafnium oxide has been measured and found to be -70632 cal/mole; this suggests that the ability of hafnium to strongly function as an oxygen getter may be largely determined by the kinetics, and the free energy may play a lesser role.
- Research Organization:
- Mound Plant (MOUND), Miamisburg, OH (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00053
- OSTI ID:
- 5198946
- Report Number(s):
- MLM-2719; TRN: 80-013429
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Characterization of Pu-238 Heat Source Granule Containment
Plutonium-238 dioxide/T-111 compatibility studies
Related Subjects
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
LINERS
TANTALUM ALLOY-T111
OXIDATION
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
EMBRITTLEMENT
FORMATION FREE ENERGY
HAFNIUM OXIDES
OXYGEN
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
TANTALUM OXIDES
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALLOYS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
FREE ENERGY
HAFNIUM COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIOISOTOPES
TANTALUM ALLOYS
TANTALUM BASE ALLOYS
TANTALUM COMPOUNDS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
070300* - Isotopic Power Supplies