Radioisotope thermoelectric generator

[bill nye scienceguy!]

as part of an engineering project I am doing i have to briefly discuss RTGs and i would like a reference other than wikipedia to put in my bibliography. can anyone direct me to a good book or journal article which describes the design, function etc?

thanks a lot

 

[marcusl]

Look at ch. 5 in Hyder, A.K., et al, Spacecraft Power Technologies, London: Imperial College Press, 2000.

There are some useful charts in chapt 11 of
AIAA Aerospace Design Engineers Guide (5th Edition)
Edited by: The Design Guide Subcommittee of the AIAA Design Engineering Technical Committee © 2003 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

 

[waht]

Russia made a lot of RTGs back in the day. a lot of them powered lighthouses, and beacons around Siberia. Now they have a problem dismantling them.

http://www.bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/navy/northern_fleet/incidents/37598/

Voyager space probes, among many are powered by RTGs, miraculously they still transmit today after 25 years. Cassini Saturn probe is power by three RTGs, providing 900 Watts of power for years to come. You might want to look those up.