Development of the generation III (ATR generation I) Plutonium-238 production target design

Nick G. Russell, Richard H. Howard, Kurt R. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A domestic supply chain to produce 238Pu fuel for radioisotope thermoelectric generators is critical for enabling future space exploration. A multi-laboratory effort has worked to establish a common target design to efficiently produce 238Pu in two research reactors. This approach ensures that the annual production goals set forth by NASA are met, while also establishing redundant production capabilities. This paper describes the effort to develop the common target design as well as considerations for future applications for the irradiation platform.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110912
JournalApplied Radiation and Isotopes
Volume199
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Funding

Funding for this work was provided by the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy. The authors wish to acknowledge Bob Wham, Chris Jensen, Charles Daily, and C.J. Hurt for their support and helpful discussion regarding the High Flux Isotope Reactor design considerations. The authors also would like to acknowledge their INL counterparts, including Andrew Zillmer, William Green, Jill Mitchell, Brittany Grayson, Austen Fradeneck, Joshua Fishler, Erik Rosvall, Justin Lower, and Joshua Peterson-Droogh. Funding for this work was provided by the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the US Department of Energy , Office of Nuclear Energy . The authors wish to acknowledge Bob Wham, Chris Jensen, Charles Daily, and C.J. Hurt for their support and helpful discussion regarding the High Flux Isotope Reactor design considerations. The authors also would like to acknowledge their INL counterparts, including Andrew Zillmer, William Green, Jill Mitchell, Brittany Grayson, Austen Fradeneck, Joshua Fishler, Erik Rosvall, Justin Lower, and Joshua Peterson-Droogh.

Keywords

  • 238Pu
  • ATR
  • HFIR
  • Irradiation facility
  • Isotope development
  • Plutonium-238 production
  • Pu-238
  • Radioisotope thermoelectric generator

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