MHW-RTG

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The Multihundred-Watt radioisotope thermoelectric generators (MHW RTG) is a type of US radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) developed for the Voyager spacecraft.[1]

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators for the Voyager program.

Each RTG had a total weight of 37.7 kg including about 4.5 kg of Pu-238.[2] It uses 24 pressed plutonium-238 oxide spheres and provides enough heat to generate approximately 157 watts of electrical power initially - halving every 87.7 years.

Each RTG generated about 2400 Watts of thermal power.[3] Conversion of the decay heat of the plutonium to electrical power used 312 silicon-germanium (SiGe) thermoelectric couples. The initial thermoelectric couple hot junction temperature was 1273 K (1832 °F) with a cold junction temperature of 573 K (572 °F).[4]

Each Voyager spacecraft has 3 RTGs. Collectively, the RTGs supplied each Voyager spacecraft with 470 watts at launch.[5][6]

  • RTG heat source unit

  • RTG diagram 1

  • RTG unit

MHW-RTGs were used on Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and the Lincoln Experimental Satellites 8 & 9.

Subsequent US spacecraft used the GPHS-RTG which used similar SiGe thermoelectic devices but a different packaging of the fuel.

References

  1. ↑ Heacock (1980). "The Voyager Space Craft". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Vol 194 1980 pps 267 - 270. 
  2. ↑ "Space Nuclear Power" G.L.Bennett 2006
  3. ↑ http://www.totse.com/en/technology/space_astronomy_nasa/spacnuke.html
  4. ↑ Furlong, Richard R.; Wahlquist, Earl J. (1999). "U.S. space missions using radioisotope power systems". Nuclear News 42 (4): 26–34. Retrieved January 2, 2011. 
  5. ↑ "VOYAGER 2:Host Information". NASA. 1989. Retrieved January 2, 2011. 
  6. ↑ "Voyager 2 Craft Details". NASA-NSSDC-Spacecraft-Details. NASA. Retrieved March 9, 2011. 
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