RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEMS
- Introduction
- RPS and Space Missions
- NASA Mission Portfolio and Classes
- Mission Types
- Flagship Missions
- New Frontiers Missions
- Discovery Missions
- NASA RPS Program
- Program Content and Structure
- Acquiring Flight Systems
- DOE’s Role
- Pu-238 Supply Project
- Constant Rate Production Strategy
- RPS Production and DOE Laboratories
- ORNL
- LANL
- INL
- RPS Production Funding
- New Technology Investments
- NASA RPS Selection Process
- Operational Considerations
- Costs and RPS Demand
- Flagship-Class Missions
- Discovery-Class Missions
- DOE’s Production Capability
- Technological Advances and Pu-238 Demand
- ASRG
- Dynamic RPS Funding
- Thermoelectrics
- Skutterudite
- eMMRTG
- Modular RPS
- Solar Technology
- Demand from Other Users
- Reestablishing Pu-238 Production Challenges
- Long Road to Shortage
- Synthesizing PU-238
- Plutonium Production Problems
- Automating Pu-238 Production
- Neptunium
- LANL Production Equipment
- Testing and Fabricating at INL
- Production Challenges
- Chemical Processing
- Staffing Issues
- Reactor Positions for Target Irradiation
- Competition from Other Users
- Outlook
NEXT GENERATION RADIOISOTOPE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS
- Background
- Radioisotope Power Systems
- RPS Product Families
- Current System
- System in Development
- Other Potential Future Systems
- Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators
- Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
- GPHS Assembly
- Converter Assembly
- Converter Housing
- System Considerations
- Fuel
- TRL
- MMRTG F2, F3, F4-6
- Enhanced MMRTG
- eMMRTG Conceptual Design
- GPHS Assembly
- Converter Assembly
- Converter Housing
- System Considerations
- Nominal Operations
- Thermal Compliance
- Mechanical Compliance
- Fault Protection
- Schedule
- Possible Future RPS
ORGANIZATION AND COMPANY PROFILES
(Including: Contact Info, Overview, Organizational Structure, Activities, Programs, RPS, Projects, Plans, Operations, Leadership Position, Core Capabilities, Isotope Technologies, Reactors, Plutonium Production, Budgets, Nuclear Weapons, Pu-238 Project, GPHS-RTG, LWRHU, Ceramic, TA-55, Plutonium Pits, PF-4, Risks, Expansions, Field Centers, Research and Development Centers, Priority Goal, Constant Rate Production, Process Development, Process Optimization, Campaigns, ASRG, VCHP, Testing, Flight Design, Performance, Power Converters, Thermionics)
- National Laboratories:
- Glenn Research Center
- Idaho National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Private Companies:
- Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Nanohmics Inc.
- Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
List of Figures
1.) Expanded View of the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
2.) NASA RPS Mission History
3.) Plutonium-238 Supply Project-Radioisotope Power System Production Process Flowchart
4.) RPS Heat Source Supply and Mission Demand Balance Using CRP: 2014-2035
5.) RPS Pu-238 Fuel Clads
6.) Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator for the Curiosity Rover at Kennedy Space Center
7.) Power Source Selection in NASA’s Lifecycle Review Process
8.) RPS Technology to System Roadmap
9.) RPS Decadal Planning Information Specifications
10.) Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Radioisotope Power Systems and Plutonium-238 Production Activities: 2011-2030
11.) Schematic Diagram of a Single RTG Thermocouple Connected to an Electric Load
12.) General Purpose Heat Source Module Parts
13.) MMRTG Configuration
14.) MMRTG F2
15.) eMMRTG Configuration Concept
16.) U.S. Department of Energy Plutonium-238 Supply Project
17.) Key Steps in Radioisotope Power System Production
18.) Plutonium-238 Synthesis
19.) Plutonium-238 Production
20.) Plutonium-238 Flowsheet
21.) Plutonium-238 Proposed Technology Comparison to Existing Processes and Areas Requiring Validation and Scale-Up
22.) Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Radioisotope Power Systems and Plutonium-238 Production Activities: 2011-2030
23.) New INL Neptunium Oxide Repackaging Glovebox
24.) Advanced Test Reactor and the High Flux Isotope Reactor to Produce Plutonium-238
25.) HFIR Irradiation Sites
26.) Design and Irradiation Focused on Development of Full Length Neptunium Target
27.) Examples of Stirling Convertor Development for Radioisotope Power Systems
28.) Flexure Isotope Stirling Convertor
29.) Turbo-Brayton Convertor and Generator
30.) Thermoacoustic Power Convertor and Generator
31.) Robust Stirling Convertor Generator
32.) ATR vs. Commercial Pressurized Water Reactor
33.) Cross-Section of the ATR
34.) DOE RPS Supply Chain
35.) 238PuO2 Pellet Glowing from Its Own Heat
36.) Model GPHS Module
37.) GPHS Fueled Clad
38.) Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit
39.) General Purpose Heat Source Module Assembly
40.) NASA Centers and Facilities
41.) NASA Four Major Themes
42.) NASA 2018 Strategic Plan Framework
43.) MMRTG Undergoing Acceptance Testing
44.) 238PU Process Diagram
45.) ASRG Backup Cooling Concept
46.) Stirling Convertor
47.) Stirling Hot End, VCHP Annulus and Heater Cylinder
48.) VCHP Installed
49.) VCHP Layout
50.) VCHP and Heat Cycling
51.) Mars 2020 Rover MMRTG
52.) Mars 2020 Rover Belly
53.) Mars 2020 Rover Belly
54.) LMT Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator
55.) Thermionic Converter
56.) Mars 2020 Rover MMRTG
List of Tables
1.) NASA RPS Missions: 1969-2011
2.) Radioisotope Power System Funds by DOE and NASA and Program ($ Thousand): 2011-2020
3.) U.S. Plutonium-238 Production (Grams, $ Million): 2019-2024
4.) Decadal Survey Recommended Missions and Power Sources: 2013-2022
5.) Current and Potential Radioisotope Power Systems for Space Exploration
6.) MMRTG Performance Characteristics
7.) Nominal MMRTG Operating Characteristics
8.) Projected eMMRTG Performance Characteristics
9.) Nominal eMMRTG Operating Characteristics
10.) eMMRTG Project Schedule
11.) Possible Future RPS
12.) Dynamic Power Converter Performance Goals for Radioisotope Power Systems and Planetary Science
13.) Dynamic Power Converter Design Summary by Company
14.) Idaho National Lab Core Capabilities
15.) Idaho National Lab Budget by Programs and Elements: 2018-2020
16.) Los Alamos National Laboratory Budget by Programs and Elements: 2018-2020
17.) NASA Appropriations by Program: 2014-2019
18.) NASA Appropriations and Authorizations by Program: FY2019
19.) NASA Appropriations: 2020
20.) NASA Budget Requests: 2021-2024
21.) NASA Planetary Science Budget ($ Million): 2018-2024
22.) NASA Radioisotope Power Systems Budget ($ Million): 2018-2024
23.) NASA RPS Program Elements and Providers
24.) ORNL Radiochemical Engineering Development Center
25.) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Budget by Programs and Elements: 2018-2020
