Design optimization studies for 238Pu production

With the dawn of a new space exploration era, some challenges must be faced. One of them is finding a reliable way to provide energy for the different space missions that humanity intends to carry out in the coming years. One of the main alternatives is the use of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) based on 238Pu. This radionuclide is considered an ideal candidate, but its production is very complex and has never been done in Europe for space applications. In this context, a European Space Agency funded assessment conducted by the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre determined the feasibility of the production of 238Pu. However, optimization studies for the production of this radioisotope remained to be done. In this work, the implementation of an irradiation and optimization model is presented with relevant results, with the purpose of achieving a demonstration irradiation for the production of 238Pu at the Belgian Reactor 2.