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DOE OSTI · 3378283

GPHS-RTG F5R Electrically Heated Thermal Vacuum Testing

Davis, Shad E [Idaho National Laboratory] (ORCID:0000000201273700)·Giglio, Joe [Idaho National Laboratory] (ORCID:0000000289435814)·Birch, Jaymon C [Idaho National Laboratory]·Horkley, Brandon M [Idaho National Laboratory]
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Abstract

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been tasked with the evaluation and refurbishment of the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) Flight Unit 5 (GPHS-RTG F5R or F5R) that was defueled in 2005. This paper describes the testing of F5R in the thermal vacuum chamber and evaluation of the data demonstrating the generator meets updated Cassini-Huygens requirements. The generator produced 260 We of power at the specified 4100 Wth heat source inventory. This power exceeded the power requirement for 250 We , confirming system integrity and demonstrating that the generator is capable of potential NASA missions.

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30 - DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSIONElectrically heated Thermoelectric GeneratorF5RFlight Unit 5 RefurbishedGeneral Purpose Heat Source Radioisotope Thermoelectric GeneratorGPHS-ETGGPHS-ETG F5R Thermal Vacuum TestingGPHS-RTG

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Davis, Shad E [Idaho National Laboratory] (ORCID:0000000201273700), Giglio, Joe [Idaho National Laboratory] (ORCID:0000000289435814), Birch, Jaymon C [Idaho National Laboratory], Horkley, Brandon M [Idaho National Laboratory]. 2026-04-01. GPHS-RTG F5R Electrically Heated Thermal Vacuum Testing. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/3378283

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