基于241AmO2驱动放射性同位素温差发电器在月球表面输出性能模拟计算

The Simulated Calculation of the Output of a 241AmO2-Fueled Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator on the Moon Surface

  • 摘要: 238Pu驱动放射性同位素温差发电器(radioisotope thermoelectric generator, RTG)在深空探测中具有广泛应用。但是238Pu生产工艺复杂、产量小,不能完全满足深空探测任务的需求,有必要寻找238Pu替代物。241Am半衰期长,剂量率低,比功率合适,来源广泛,可以用作238Pu替代物。其氧化物241AmO2-陶瓷是最有可能的燃料形式。本文基于GPHS热源构型,设计一种单模块RTG,采用有限元软件ANSYS计算该型RTG在月球表面昼夜温度下的输出电功率以及温度分布。结果表明,该型RTG在月球表面昼夜温度下输出电功率约2 W,转换效率约3.5%,对月球表面环境适应性良好。与欧洲太空局200 W热源241AmO2-RTG相比转换效率略低;与韩国原子能研究所120 W 238PuO2-RTG相比转换效率相等。研究结果表明该241AmO2-RTG的设计方案可行。

     

    Abstract: Radioisotope thermoelectric generator which uses Seebeck effect converting heat energy generated by the decay of radioisotopes into electrical energy is widely used in the space. The most widely used radioisotope thermoelectric generator is the 238PuO2 radioisotope thermoelectric generator. It has many advantages such as long life, high reliability, etc. But the manufacturing technique of 238PuO2 is very complex and the product is rare. There is not enough 238PuO2 for the radioisotope thermoelectric generator. It is necessary to seek for the substitution for the 238PuO2. The radioisotope 241Am has many advantages to use for the radioisotope thermoelectric generator. The feasibility of 241AmO2 used in the radioisotope thermoelectric generator is analyzed. An 241AmO2-radioisotope thermoelectric generator based on the GPHS is designed. The finite elements software ANSYS is used to calculate the electrical output and the temperature distribution of the RTG in the temperature of the day and night of the moon surface. The electrical output of the two working states is nearly 2 watt, and the converting efficiency is about 3.5%. The calculation result shows that the 241AmO2 radioisotope thermoelectric generator is well adapted to the moon surface environment. The converting efficiency is slightly small than that of the European Space Agency, but is equal to that of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The analysis result shows that 241AmO2 can be used in the radioisotope thermoelectric generator.

     

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