Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023

William Spencer Green; Andrew John Zillmer; Jill R Mitchell; Erik S Rosvall; Brittany Jean Grayson; Ryan L Marlow; Austen David Fradeneck; Jonathan K Foster; Kevin M Geddes; Mark A Hill; Paul Francis O'Donnell Jr

Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023

William Spencer Green, Andrew John Zillmer, Jill R Mitchell, Erik S Rosvall, Brittany Jean Grayson, Ryan L Marlow, Austen David Fradeneck, Jonathan K Foster, Kevin M Geddes, Mark A Hill, Paul Francis O'Donnell Jr

Research output: Contribution to conference › Presentation

Abstract

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has an ongoing effort to produce Pu-238 for NASA deep space missions. Recent work at INL has consisted of irradiation of Pu 238 production targets in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), generating more than an estimated 400 grams of Pu-238 heat source material between March and October 2023. Additionally, INL began qualifying Pu-238 production targets with a higher loading of Np-237 to further increase the production of Pu-238 production in later years. INL has also updated the analysis as a result of operational changes at ATR. One instance was updating the analysis to enable a single Pu-238 production target to be run in ATR’s South Flux Trap (SFT), rather than the previous seven production targets, to make use of a spare target from a discontinued design. Higher lobe powers in ATR were also analyzed due to potential changes in planned lobe powers.

Original language	English
State	Published - 2024
Event	2024 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2024 - Santa Fe, United States Duration: May 6 2024 → May 10 2024

Conference

Conference	2024 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2024
Country/Territory	United States
City	Santa Fe
Period	05/6/24 → 05/10/24

Keywords

07 - ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
73 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
Pu-238
Pu-238 Production
Plutonium 238

INL Publication Number

INL/CON-24-77440
171624

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Green, W. S., Zillmer, A. J., Mitchell, J. R., Rosvall, E. S., Grayson, B. J., Marlow, R. L., Fradeneck, A. D., Foster, J. K., Geddes, K. M., Hill, M. A., & O'Donnell Jr, P. F. (2024). Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023. 2024 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2024, Santa Fe, United States. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2352655

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title = "Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023",

abstract = "Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has an ongoing effort to produce Pu-238 for NASA deep space missions. Recent work at INL has consisted of irradiation of Pu 238 production targets in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), generating more than an estimated 400 grams of Pu-238 heat source material between March and October 2023. Additionally, INL began qualifying Pu-238 production targets with a higher loading of Np-237 to further increase the production of Pu-238 production in later years. INL has also updated the analysis as a result of operational changes at ATR. One instance was updating the analysis to enable a single Pu-238 production target to be run in ATR{\textquoteright}s South Flux Trap (SFT), rather than the previous seven production targets, to make use of a spare target from a discontinued design. Higher lobe powers in ATR were also analyzed due to potential changes in planned lobe powers.",

keywords = "07 - ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES, 99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS, 73 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS, Pu-238, Pu-238 Production, Plutonium 238",

author = "Green, {William Spencer} and Zillmer, {Andrew John} and Mitchell, {Jill R} and Rosvall, {Erik S} and Grayson, {Brittany Jean} and Marlow, {Ryan L} and Fradeneck, {Austen David} and Foster, {Jonathan K} and Geddes, {Kevin M} and Hill, {Mark A} and {O'Donnell Jr}, {Paul Francis}",

year = "2024",

language = "English",

note = "2024 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2024 ; Conference date: 06-05-2024 Through 10-05-2024",

}

Green, WS, Zillmer, AJ , Mitchell, JR , Rosvall, ES , Grayson, BJ , Marlow, RL , Fradeneck, AD, Foster, JK, Geddes, KM, Hill, MA & O'Donnell Jr, PF 2024, 'Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023', 2024 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2024, Santa Fe, United States, 05/6/24 - 05/10/24. <https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2352655>

TY - CONF

T1 - Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023

AU - Green, William Spencer

AU - Zillmer, Andrew John

AU - Mitchell, Jill R

AU - Rosvall, Erik S

AU - Grayson, Brittany Jean

AU - Marlow, Ryan L

AU - Fradeneck, Austen David

AU - Foster, Jonathan K

AU - Geddes, Kevin M

AU - Hill, Mark A

AU - O'Donnell Jr, Paul Francis

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has an ongoing effort to produce Pu-238 for NASA deep space missions. Recent work at INL has consisted of irradiation of Pu 238 production targets in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), generating more than an estimated 400 grams of Pu-238 heat source material between March and October 2023. Additionally, INL began qualifying Pu-238 production targets with a higher loading of Np-237 to further increase the production of Pu-238 production in later years. INL has also updated the analysis as a result of operational changes at ATR. One instance was updating the analysis to enable a single Pu-238 production target to be run in ATR’s South Flux Trap (SFT), rather than the previous seven production targets, to make use of a spare target from a discontinued design. Higher lobe powers in ATR were also analyzed due to potential changes in planned lobe powers.

AB - Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has an ongoing effort to produce Pu-238 for NASA deep space missions. Recent work at INL has consisted of irradiation of Pu 238 production targets in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), generating more than an estimated 400 grams of Pu-238 heat source material between March and October 2023. Additionally, INL began qualifying Pu-238 production targets with a higher loading of Np-237 to further increase the production of Pu-238 production in later years. INL has also updated the analysis as a result of operational changes at ATR. One instance was updating the analysis to enable a single Pu-238 production target to be run in ATR’s South Flux Trap (SFT), rather than the previous seven production targets, to make use of a spare target from a discontinued design. Higher lobe powers in ATR were also analyzed due to potential changes in planned lobe powers.

KW - 07 - ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES

KW - 99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS

KW - 73 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

KW - Pu-238

KW - Pu-238 Production

KW - Plutonium 238

M3 - Presentation

T2 - 2024 Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space, NETS 2024

Y2 - 6 May 2024 through 10 May 2024

ER -

Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2022 to December 2023

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