Space nuclear power system accidents: Doses from Pu-238 and Am-241 inhalation

Rate determining step of reduction Np(VI) by organic reagents from 30%TBP/Kerosene to nitrate solution

A series of single stage trials were conducted using six reducing reagents to investigate the rate determining step during Np(VI) reduction back-extraction from 30%TBP/Kerosene to HNO3 solution under the same conditions. The six reducing reagents included: acetohydroxamic acid, N,N-dimethylhydroxylamine, N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine, methylhydrazine and N,N-dimethylhydrazine. Moreover, the back-extraction of Np(V) from 30%TBP/Kerosene to HNO3 solution without reducing reagent was conducted with the same concentrations of Np and HNO3. The experimental results indicate the rate of Np(VI) reduction in the two-phase system is determined mainly by the rate of Np(V) mass transfer from 30%TBP/Kerosene to HNO3 solution, whose mass transfer kinetics is far slower than previously estimated. The rate determining step is a slow chemical reaction as: NpO2NO3·TBP = NpO2 + + NO3 − + TBP.

High efficiency Dual-Cycle Conversion System using Kr-85

This paper discusses the use of one of the safest isotopes known isotopes, Kr-85, as a candidate fuel source for deep space missions. This isotope comes from 0.286% of fission events. There is a vast quantity of Kr-85 stored in spent fuel and it is continually being produced by nuclear reactors. In using Kr-85 with a novel Dual Cycle Conversion System (DCCS) it is feasible to boost the system efficiency from 26% to 45% over a single cycle device while only increasing the system mass by less than 1%. The Kr-85 isotope is the ideal fuel for a Photon Intermediate Direct Energy Conversion (PIDEC) system. PIDEC is an excellent choice for the top cycle in a DCCS. In the top cycle, ionization and excitation of the Kr-85:Cl gas mixture (99% Kr and 1% Cl) from beta particles creates KrCl* excimer photons which are efficiently absorbed by diamond photovoltaic cells on the walls of the pressure vessels. The benefit of using the DCCS is that Kr-85 is capable of operating at high temperatures in the primary cycle and the residual heat can then be converted into electrical power in the bottom cycle which uses a Stirling Engine. The design of the DCCS begins with a spherical pressure vessel of radius 13.7 cm with 3.7 cm thick walls and is filled with a Kr-85:Cl gas mixture. The inner wall has diamond photovoltaic cells attached to it and there is a sapphire window between the diamond photovoltaic cells and the Kr-85:Cl gas mixture which shields the photovoltaic cells from beta particles. The DCCS without a gamma ray shield has specific power of 6.49 W/kg. A removable 6 cm thick tungsten shield is used to safely limit the radiation exposure levels of personnel. A shadow shield remains in the payload to protect the radiation sensitive components in the flight package. The estimated specific power of the unoptimized system design in this paper is about 2.33 W/kg. The specific power of an optimized system should be higher. The Kr-85 isotope is relatively safe because it will disperse quickly in case of an accident and if it enters the lungs there is no significant biological half-life.