The evolution of hfir cermet pu-238 production targets

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2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The production of238Pu as a heat generation source for radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) was active at the Savannah River Site (SRS) from the 1960s-1990s. Stockpiles of this valuable radioisotope have decreased over the last few decades and more material must be produced to support future deep space exploration missions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has initiated efforts to establish a reliable production facility to replenish this resource by transmuting237Np into238Pu. Like the SRS, ORNL uses a mechanically pressed ceramic/metallic (cermet) pellet that blends237Np (in the form of ceramic NpO2 powder) with aluminum powder. A “Generation I” target containing 52 such pellets has been qualified for irradiation at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at ORNL. The next “Generation II” target design incorporates lessons learned from the previous qualification exercise to develop a further optimized irradiation vehicle design. This paper discusses the evolution of the cermet targets at ORNL and provides details on the Generation II design.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages368-371
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9781510859609
StatePublished - 2016
EventNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018 - Las Vegas, United States
Duration: Feb 26 2018Mar 1 2018

Publication series

NameNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018

Conference

ConferenceNuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLas Vegas
Period02/26/1803/1/18

Funding

This program is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan. Funding for this program is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy.

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