Critical design features of thermal-based radioisotope generators: A review of the power solution for polar regions and space
Name
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.pdf
Description
Accepted version
Size
2.39 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
0da3698a1498dc364c18c5c7af72d424
Author(s)
Wang, Xiawa
Liang, Renrong
Fisher, Peter H
Chan, Walker R
Xu, Jun
Date Issued
March 2020
Journal
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Citation
Wang, Xiawa et al. "Critical design features of thermal-based radioisotope generators: A review of the power solution for polar regions and space." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 119 (March 2020): 109572 © 2019 Elsevier Ltd
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
As one special type of sustainable energy source, radioisotopes have extremely high energy densities. Electrical generators using the decay heat from these radioisotopes can provide long-lasting power when other types of energy, such as solar or chemical energy, are not available. Starting from the 1960s, radioisotope generators were safely used in numerous space and terrestrial missions, and have powered systems from interstellar spacecraft to lighthouses along the arctic coast. This work reviewed the generator development and critical components that constitute a functional system. Started with a brief generator history, the paper focused on technological aspects including fuel manufacturing, energy conversion elements, thermal insulation, structural materials, prototype measurements, future improvements, and concluded with the safety aspects for both space and terrestrial applications. Radioisotope generators are one example of using nuclear energy in a peaceful way to benefit human be-ings. Plutonium fuel productions were resumed and accelerated in the United States and americium fuel research was actively sponsored by the European Space Agency. It is promis-ing that more and more high performance generators will be used in future land and space missions.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109572
