PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
| PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator | ||
 | ||
| Generator by Ionic Symphonic Protonic Electronics | ||
| Radial size | Tiny, Radial mounted | |
| Cost | (total) | 23 300.00 
|
| Mass | (total) | 0.080 t |
| Drag | 0.2 | |
| Max. Temp. | 1200 K | |
| Impact Tolerance | 7 m/s | |
| Research |  Experimental Electrics
| |
| Unlock cost | 58 000
| |
| Since version | 0.18 | |
| Part configuration | RTG.cfg | |
| Electricity generated | 0.75 ⚡/s | |
| Optimum Temp | 350 K | |
| Shutdown Temp | 10000 K | |
| Max Cooling | 0 kW | |
| Packed volume | 90 l | |
The PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) is an electric generator that provides constant and reliable electricity for spacecraft. Although its weight/power ratio is worse than that of solar panels near Kerbin, it has the advantage of not requiring direct sunlight, allowing it to work on the night side of a planet or very far from Kerbol.
Contents
Product description
| “ | Through exploitation of the natural decay of Blutonium-238, this elegantly simple power generator can provide consistent, stable power for decades. Not to be used for providing heating during emergency rover excursions. — Ionic Symphonic Protonic Electronics |
” |
Usage
The Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is useful for purposes such as:
- Traveling so far away from the sun that solar panels become insufficient.
- Operating energy-consuming equipment on the night-side of a celestial body.
- Removing the need to take special action to replenish electrical power stores.
- Emergency backup for a stronger primary power supply.
- Providing power while stowed in a fairing or cargo bay.
The alternative when there is too little sunlight is to use fuel cells. Which one is better depends on many factors. As a rule of thumb, two RTGs is equivalent in power to a single Fuel Cell after about 1.5 hours of operation, while 24 RTGs is equivalent to a Fuel Cell Array after about 2 hours of operation.
The electric output of the most common electricity source, solar panels, decreases according to the inverse square law. This means that the constant mass/power ratio of the RTG overtakes the mass/power of the fully illuminated OX-4L 1x6 Photovoltaic Panels at around 38,944GM from Kerbol, or slightly before reaching Dres. However, the RTG's cost/power ratio only overtakes the OX-4L at around 152,474GM, farther than the orbit of Eeloo.
Trivia
- The description contains a reference to The Martian, where Mark Watney used an RTG to provide heating in order to save power.
- The design of the PB-NUK Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is based on the SNAP RTG used on the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes.
- There are also two parts on the New Horizons probe that has the same appearance in-game.
Changes
- Moved from Utility to Electrical
- Mass reduced from 0.175 to 0.08, power output reduced from 1 E/s to 0.75 E/s.
- Initial Release
