Effect of Fuel and Design Options on RTG Performance Versus PFF Power Demand

摘要

Previous publications by the author described detailed design studies of a number of radioisotope power systems for the Pluto Fast Flyby (PFF) mission. The systems studied employed General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules and a variety of conversion systems (thermoelectric, Stirling, and thermophotovoltaic) for transforming the isotope heat into electricity. The present paper confines its attention to the relatively conservative option employing standard thermoelectric unicouples, since that may be the only one flight-ready for the projected PFF launch in 2001.