Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 38 July 28, 2000

20000063373 Los Alamos National Lab., NM USA
Light-Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (LWRHU) sequential impact tests
Reimus, M. A. H.; Rinehart, G. H.; Aug. 31, 1997; 38p; In English
Report No.(s): DE97-009285; LA-13339-MS; No Copyright; Avail: Department of Energy Information Bridge
The light-weight radioisotope heater unit (LWRHU) is a (sup 238)PuO2- fueled heat source designed to provide one thermal
watt in each of various locations on a spacecraft. Los Alamos National Laboratory designed, fabricated, and safety tested the
LWRHU. The heat source consists of a hot-pressed (sup 238)PuO2 fuel pellet, a Pt-30Rh vented capsule, a pyrolytic graphite insulator,
and a fine weave-pierced fabric graphite aeroshell assembly. A series of sequential impacts tests using simulant-fueled
LWRHU capsules was recently conducted to determine a failure threshold. Sequential impacting, in both end- on and side-on orientations,
resulted in increased damage with each subsequent impact. Although the tests were conducted until the aeroshells were
sufficiently distorted to be out of dimensional specification, the simulant- fueled capsules used in these tests were not severely
deformed. Sequential impacting of the LWRHU appears to result in slightly greater damage than a single impact at the final impact
velocity of 50 m/s. Post impact examination revealed that the sequentially impacted capsules were slightly more deformed and
were outside of dimensional specifications.
NTIS
Radioisotope Batteries; Heat Sources; Heating Equipment
20000064663 New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Tokyo, Japan
Research report of FY 1996 on development of new hydrogen energy demonstration technology, 1, FY 1996 results
Nov. 30, 1997; 162p; In Japanese; In English
Report No.(s): DE99-714207; NEDO-9601-I; No Copyright; Avail: Department of Energy Information Bridge
The purpose of this project is to clarify the possibility of new hydrogen energy as a future energy source. The new hydrogen
energy is obtained from the excess heat generation phenomenon through the electrolysis of heavy water using palladium metal
as an electrode. The excess heat regeneration tests have been successively conducted using two kinds of electrolytic cells. As a
result, the excess heat generation measured by one electrolytic cell in FY 1996 has been confirmed in about 35% of repeatability
under the same condition. On the other hand, the excess heat over the measuring accuracy was not measured using two kinds of
absolute heating value measuring systems. The electrolytic cell, by which the excess heat was measured, was used for confirming
the absolute heating value as keeping its condition. When tests were conducted using the developed system, it was found that the
absolute heating value can not be detected. Then, verification tests are currently conducted for determining the cause. Moreover,
in order to clarify the basic characteristics of materials required for the regeneration of the excess heat generation phenomenon,
observation and analysis of the materials were performed before and after the excess heat measurement. Thus, the cause of difference
was revealed.
NTIS
Energy Technology; Hydrogen
20000064664 New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Tokyo, Japan
Research report of FY 1996 on development of new hydrogen energy demonstration technology, 2, Results in the extension
period of FY 1996
Nov. 30, 1997; 142p; In Japanese; In English
Report No.(s): DE99-714208; NEDO-9601-II; No Copyright; Avail: Department of Energy Information Bridge
The purpose of this project is to clarify the possibility of new hydrogen energy as a future energy source. The new hydrogen
energy is obtained from the excess heat generation phenomenon through the electrolysis of heavy water using palladium metal
as an electrode. The excess heat measurements were conducted through the excess heat confirmation tests using a fuel cell-type
electrolytic cell up to November 1997. As a result, it was found that the excess heat measured by the calibration method can not
be measured by the flow calorimetric method. In order to investigate the possibility of systematic errors of the both methods, the
sensitivity, accuracy and responsibility, and the conditions of the excess heat generation, research activities based on new facts
from scientific information and fundamental research supporting projects have been mainly performed. Among these, were performed
the excess heat measurement tests by the cataphoresis method, absorption tests by the high-pressure and high-temperature
charging method, gas plasma loading, in-situ X-ray detection, and reactant detection tests using Au/Pd/PdO heterogeneous structural
body.
NTIS
Energy Technology; Hydrogen
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