General-purpose heat source

The general-purpose heat source is a U.S. DOE-designed radioactive heat source for radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) or Stirling radioisotope generators (SRG). It is meant for space applications and is packaged as a stackable module.

Exploded view of a stack of general-purpose heat source modules.

Characteristics

GPHSs are fueled with plutonium-238 dioxide. Each module has a temperature of over 600 degrees Celsius and delivers 250 watts at the time of manufacture. They measure 9.948 cm wide x 9.32 cm deep x 5.82 cm high and weigh no more than 1.44 kg each.

Safety

GPHSs are designed with safety in mind and employ iridium-clad plutonium-238 dioxide pellets. The generated alpha particles are blocked by the cladding, thus no further radiation shielding is necessary. The pellets are encased within nested layers of carbon-based material and placed within an aeroshell housing to comprise the complete module.

The modules can withstand extreme conditions including a launch-pad explosion or a high-speed reentry. Overheating and impact tests were performed on several sample modules.[1]

Uses

GPHSs of this, or very similar, design were used in the GPHS-RTGs of Cassini-Huygens, New Horizons, the Galileo probe, and the Ulysses probe. They are used in the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator, as used by Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover). They are also used in the advanced Stirling radioisotope generator.

Stages of assembly
  • Plutonium pellet.
  • Plutonium pellet within iridium cladding.
  • Assembled graphite impact shell.
  • Assembled module.
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References
  1. Los Alamos report "General-purpose heat source safety verification test series: SVT-11 through SVT-13". 1986-05-01, OSTI 5664400. doi:10.2172/5664400
  • Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy GPHS article
  • "Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs)" NASA Galileo Information
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