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Variety of thermoelectric generator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Multihundred-watt radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MHW RTG) is a type of US radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) developed for the Voyager spacecraft, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.[1]
Each RTG has a total weight of 37.7 kg, including about 4.5 kg of Pu-238[2] and uses 24 pressed plutonium-238 oxide spheres to provide enough heat to generate approximately 157 watts of electrical power initially – halving every 87.7 years.[3]
Each RTG initially generated about 2400 watts of thermal power.[4] Conversion of the decay heat of the plutonium to electrical power uses 312 silicon-germanium (SiGe) thermoelectric couples. The initial thermoelectric couple hot junction temperature was 1273 K (1000 °C, 1832 °F) with a cold junction temperature of 573 K (300 °C, 572 °F).[5]
Each Voyager spacecraft has 3 RTGs. Collectively, the RTGs supply each Voyager spacecraft with 470 watts at launch.[6][7]
MHW-RTGs were used on the Lincoln Experimental Satellites 8 and 9.
Subsequent US spacecraft used the GPHS-RTG, which used similar SiGe thermoelectric devices but a different packaging of the fuel.
The MMRTG is a newer RTG type, used on the Curiosity rover.
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