RTG Housing and Structure
RTG Structural Housing and Containment Assembly
The RTG Structural Housing and Containment Assembly is a titanium Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718 enclosure that mechanically supports, protects, and mounts radioisotope thermoelectric generator components to the Lunar Ark foundation. Operating in the lunar vacuum, the housing relies on Viton O-ring seals and an internal gas management system to maintain a hermetic inert atmosphere around the thermoelectric couples. The assembly must accommodate thermal expansion gradients between high-temperature internal elements and cooler mounting interfaces, withstand lunar seismic loading without compromising seal integrity, resist surface dust contamination, and ensure mechanical containment across a 100-year structural design life.
Structural housing enclosing RTG components providing mechanical support and protection
Purpose
Provide structural integrity, containment, and mounting for RTG assembly on Ark structure
Context
Child of L2-PWR-RTG within the Lunar Ark power generation system
Principles
- ▸Housing provides hermetic seal for thermoelectric couples in vacuum
- ▸Titanium or Inconel construction for high-temperature structural integrity
- ▸Mounting interface transmits RTG mass loads to Ark foundation structure
- ▸Gas management system maintains inert atmosphere around thermoelectric couples
Typical implementations
- ▸MMRTG housing design (titanium outer shell, ~45 kg total mass)
- ▸GPHS-RTG aluminum outer shell with converter housing
- ▸Nuclear fuel containment vessel design practices (DOE standards)
Lunar considerations
- ▸Must withstand lunar seismic loading while maintaining seal integrity
- ▸Thermal expansion accommodation between hot RTG internals and cooler mounting
- ▸External surfaces must reject dust or be cleaned periodically
- ▸100-year structural life requires corrosion-resistant materials
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Structural housing enclosing RTG components providing mechanical support and protection |
Physical
| materials | Titanium Ti-6Al-4V housing, Inconel 718 hot-side components, Viton O-ring seals |
Interfaces
Provides
- Structural integration of all RTG components
Requires
- Foundation mounting for RTG assembly (~50kg)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "RTG Housing and Structure" (L3-PWR-RTG-HOUS). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-PWR-RTG-HOUS
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.