About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
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Symposium
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Special Topics in Nuclear Materials: Lessons Learned; Non-Energy Systems; and Coupled Extremes
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Presentation Title |
Advancing Radioisotope Heat Sources: Enhancing RPS for Extreme Environments |
Author(s) |
Jacob Matthews, Alexander Gilbert, Harsh S. Desai |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jacob Matthews |
Abstract Scope |
In October 2023, Zeno Power demonstrated a novel, commercial strontium-90 heat source with lower radiation signature compared to heritage systems – called Z1. The Z1 technology demonstration achieved four goals: 1) build nuclear hardware, 2) confirm Zeno Power’s patented approach, 3) confirm Zeno Power’s heat source fabrication techniques from benchtop to nuclear facility, and 4) validate Zeno Power’s computational models with experimental data.
Zeno Power is now building the Z2 heat source, a scaled-up, optimized heat source for government contracts supporting space and seabed applications - highlighting its versatility in any environment. Additionally, this technology reduces liability from used nuclear fuel, recycles this fuel for beneficial uses, and revitalizes communities and industries.
This paper details the development of the strontium-90 heat source technology from concept to nuclear hardware in under five years, successful demonstration at a national lab, and how heritage strontium-90 sources are being recycled to power next-generation applications. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, High-Temperature Materials, |