Pu-238 Production Progress at INL From December 2022 to December 2023

William Spencer Green; 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; Andrew John Zillmer

doi:10.13182/NETS24-43941

Pu-238 Production Progress at INL From December 2022 to December 2023

William Spencer Green
, 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
, Andrew John Zillmer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

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
Title of host publication	Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2024)
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.13182/NETS24-43941
State	Published - May 8 2024

INL Publication Number

INL/CON-23-75787
165991

Access to Document

10.13182/NETS24-43941

Cite this

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title = "Pu-238 Production Progress at INL 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.",

author = "Green, \{William Spencer\} 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\} and Zillmer, \{Andrew John\}",

year = "2024",

month = may,

day = "8",

doi = "10.13182/NETS24-43941",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2024)",

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T1 - Pu-238 Production Progress at INL From December 2022 to December 2023

AU - Green, William Spencer

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

AU - Zillmer, Andrew John

PY - 2024/5/8

Y1 - 2024/5/8

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.

U2 - 10.13182/NETS24-43941

DO - 10.13182/NETS24-43941

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2024)

ER -

Pu-238 Production Progress at INL From December 2022 to December 2023

Abstract

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