Modeling Ionizing Radiation for Spaceflight Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems

Michael B.R. Smith; Mathew W. Swinney; Carl E. Sandifer

doi:10.1109/AERO53065.2022.9843622

Modeling Ionizing Radiation for Spaceflight Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems

Michael B.R. Smith, Mathew W. Swinney, Carl E. Sandifer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents methods, simulations, and analyses for spaceflight ionizing radiation exposures to three dynamic radioisotope power systems (DRPSs). The specific systems being investigated are part of an open solicitation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop DRPS convertor technologies. The analyses include ionizing radiation sources from PuO2 (and associated isotopes) and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) over notional 20-year mission architectures with optional 10-year exposures from Jovian radiation environments. Total integrated doses to various components are calculated and compared to known material degradation thresholds in the open literature. Based on the findings, certain material trades are recommended for Jovian and non-Jovian mission architectures based solely on ionizing radiation. However, consideration is given to known and unknown synergistic degradation effects (l.e., radiation in combination with heat, pressure, or outgassing) that may be relevant to these systems and are not captured in these analyses.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022
Publisher	IEEE Computer Society
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665437608
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO53065.2022.9843622
State	Published - 2022
Event	2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022 - Big Sky, United States Duration: Mar 5 2022 → Mar 12 2022

Publication series

Name	IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings
Volume	2022-March
ISSN (Print)	1095-323X

Conference

Conference	2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022
Country/Territory	United States
City	Big Sky
Period	03/5/22 → 03/12/22

Funding

This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Energy

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10.1109/AERO53065.2022.9843622

Cite this

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title = "Modeling Ionizing Radiation for Spaceflight Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems",

abstract = "This paper presents methods, simulations, and analyses for spaceflight ionizing radiation exposures to three dynamic radioisotope power systems (DRPSs). The specific systems being investigated are part of an open solicitation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop DRPS convertor technologies. The analyses include ionizing radiation sources from PuO2 (and associated isotopes) and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) over notional 20-year mission architectures with optional 10-year exposures from Jovian radiation environments. Total integrated doses to various components are calculated and compared to known material degradation thresholds in the open literature. Based on the findings, certain material trades are recommended for Jovian and non-Jovian mission architectures based solely on ionizing radiation. However, consideration is given to known and unknown synergistic degradation effects (l.e., radiation in combination with heat, pressure, or outgassing) that may be relevant to these systems and are not captured in these analyses.",

author = "Smith, {Michael B.R.} and Swinney, {Mathew W.} and Sandifer, {Carl E.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 IEEE.; 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022 ; Conference date: 05-03-2022 Through 12-03-2022",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1109/AERO53065.2022.9843622",

language = "English",

series = "IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings",

publisher = "IEEE Computer Society",

booktitle = "2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022",

}

Smith, MBR, Swinney, MW & Sandifer, CE 2022, Modeling Ionizing Radiation for Spaceflight Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems. in 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022. IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, vol. 2022-March, IEEE Computer Society, 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022, Big Sky, United States, 03/5/22. https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO53065.2022.9843622

Modeling Ionizing Radiation for Spaceflight Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems. / Smith, Michael B.R.; Swinney, Mathew W.; Sandifer, Carl E.
2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2022. IEEE Computer Society, 2022. (IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings; Vol. 2022-March).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AB - This paper presents methods, simulations, and analyses for spaceflight ionizing radiation exposures to three dynamic radioisotope power systems (DRPSs). The specific systems being investigated are part of an open solicitation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop DRPS convertor technologies. The analyses include ionizing radiation sources from PuO2 (and associated isotopes) and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) over notional 20-year mission architectures with optional 10-year exposures from Jovian radiation environments. Total integrated doses to various components are calculated and compared to known material degradation thresholds in the open literature. Based on the findings, certain material trades are recommended for Jovian and non-Jovian mission architectures based solely on ionizing radiation. However, consideration is given to known and unknown synergistic degradation effects (l.e., radiation in combination with heat, pressure, or outgassing) that may be relevant to these systems and are not captured in these analyses.

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Modeling Ionizing Radiation for Spaceflight Dynamic Radioisotope Power Systems

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