DSE) R&D Archive

[Widow]

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Alternative Supplies Part One, prepared by Charlotte Frank

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Description:

Nominal power : 140 We
Mass ~ 20 kg
System efficiency: ~ 30 %
2 General Purpose Heat Source ('Plutonium Brick') modules
Uses 0.8 kg plutonium-238
Each GPHS contains: four iridium-clad plutonium fuel pellets
5 cm3 - 1.44 kg

Analysis:

Currently, the 55-watt Generator is a free-piston machine that operates on a thermodynamic cycle. Heat is supplied to the converter from a DOE General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) module, containing approximately 600 grams of Plutonium dioxide, and producing about 250 watts of thermal power. The heat input to a generator results in a hot-end operating temperature of 650 degrees C; and heat is rejected from the cold end of the generator at nominally 80 degrees C. The closed-cycle system converts the heat from a GPHS module into reciprocating motion with a linear alternator resulting in a AC electrical power output.

Initial testing:

The tests performed confirm the Generator is currently not a productive fuel source, despite the fact the general waste is reduced by more than half of the current H-fuel. It has been found through testing the converter supplies a large burst of energy quickly, and will then slowly expire from that point onward, due to this, its life expectancy is 14 years. There is also concern about the storage module not being able to contain the energy, causing destruction of the vessel it is attached to. This has put the safety of the Generator under question. Safety, cost, size, methods of manufacturing and life expectancy will need to be improved to allow use of this module.

Future testing:

Larger scale testing will be commencing shortly. By creating a larger unit, weighing up to 50kg, and testing with Promethium combined with Plutonium. These tests will be to see whether size, and/or a combination of fuels will increase the efficiency and power this unit produces. It may also be possible to combine the Generator with a re-created type of Radioisotope thermo-electric generator is an electrical generator that obtains its power from radioactive decay. In such a device, the heat released by the decay of a suitable radioactive material is converted into electricity using an array of thermocouples to improve power output.

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Sincerely,
Repairs & Development Supervisor

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