A PRESENTATION ON NUCLEAR BATTERY

Mr. RAHUL GUPTA

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION HISTORY RADIOACTIVITY NUCLEAR FUSION AND NUCLEAR FISSION NUCLEAR ELECTRET BATTERY

BETAVOLTAIC TECHNIQUE
OPTOELECTRIC NUCEAR BATTERY ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE

APPLICATION
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
Nuclear battery technology is employed where we want long life battery and replacing, recharging, refueling is difficult. Nuclear battery is also called isotope battery. Nuclear or atoms use the emission from the isotopes to generate power. They have a high energy density and long life, on the order of decades. Direct charge collection Indirect (scintillation) Beta voltaic Thermoelectric Thermionic Thermo photovoltaic

HISTORY
The idea of nuclear battery was introduced in the beginning of 1950, and was patented on Mar 3, 1959 to Tracer lab. Even though the idea was given more than 30 years before no significant progress was made on the subject because the yield was very less. A radioisotope electric power system developed by inventor Paul Brown was a scientific break through in nuclear power. Brown's first prototype power cell produced 100,000times as much energy per gram of strontium-90 (the energy source) than the most powerful thermal battery yet in existence.

RADIOACTIVITY
When an unstable nucleus releases energy and particles.

RADIOACTIVE DECAY

NUCLEAR FUSION

NUCLEAR FISSION
Fission is the splitting of a nucleus into two or more

separate nuclei of comparable mass One neutron interacts with one fissionable nucleus (Uranium for example) Results are: Fission Products Two heavy nuclides One heavier than the other (Average ratio of ~ 2 : 3) Neutrons 2.43 on average emitted / fission Important that more neutrons are produced than are used to cause one fission Gamma rays, beta particles Energy !!

NUCLEAR ELECTRET BATTERY

This invention relates generally to the generation

of electrical energy and more particularly to unique method of and means for utilizing the electrical energy of nuclear reaction to convert electrets from an electrostatics device into an electrodynamics current producing device. Electrets means permanently electrified substances exhibiting electric charge of opposite signs at extremities. This object to release static energy of electrets into electricity. Another object for utilizing electrets energy and a nuclear reaction to produce electricity.

BETAVOLTAIC TECHNIQUE
Beta voltaic technique uses a silicon wafer to

capture electrons emitted by a radioactive gas, such as tritium. The flat silicon wafer is coated with a diode material to create a potential barrier

 The radiation absorbed in the vicinity of any

potential barrier like a p-n junction or a metalsemiconductor contact

DIRECT CHARGING GENERATOR

The primary generator consists

of a high-Q LC tank circuit. The circuit inductance comprises a coil wound on a core composed of radioactive nuclides connected in series with the primary winding of a power transformer.

OPTOELECTRIC NUCLEAR BATTERY

A beta-emitter such as technetium-99 or trontium-90

is suspended in a gas or liquid containing luminescent gas molecules of the excimer type, constituting dust plasma. This permits a nearly lossless emission of beta electrons from the emitting dust particles for excitation of the gases whose excimer line is selected for the conversion of the radioactivity into a surrounding photovoltaic layer. The surrounding weakly ionized plasma consists of gases or gas mixtures (e.g. krypton, argon, xenon) with excimer lines, such that a considerable amount of the energy of the beta electrons is converted into this light.

NUCLEAR BATTERY BASED ON SCHOTTKEY BARRIER DIODE

It is constructed by combining Ni-

63 and silicon PN-junction(Sic). The use of metal SiC Schottky barriers for carrier separation is demonstrated to produce nuclear batteries. We have fabricated Schottky barrier diodes on n-type 4H SiC substrate using Ni as Schottky metal.

THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR
Radioisotope thermoelectric generators create

electricity from this heat difference by use of the Seebeck effect . Discovered in 1821 by Thomas Seebeck, a potential difference or voltage will be created across the juncture of two unlike metals whenever there is a temperature difference applied across the juncture.
RTGs that was placed in the Cassini spacecraft

that was sent to Saturn.

MEDICAL APPLICATION
It would be suited for medical devices like

pacemakers, implanted defibrillators. The best out of the box is the use in cardiac pacemakers. It is reported that about 600,000 pacemakers are implanted each year worldwide. . A cardiac pacemaker uses half of its battery power for cardiac stimulation and the other half for housekeeping tasks such as monitoring and data logging.

MOBILE AND AUTOMOBILE APPLICATION

Xcell-N is a nuclear powered laptop battery

that can provide between seven and eight thousand times the life of a normal laptop battery . . Nuclear batteries are going to replace the conventional batteries and adapters. nuclear batteries will find a sure niche in the automobiles replacing the weary convent ionic fuels.

MAINTANANCE
Restore battery cells with float voltage less than

[2.13] volts, and verify remaining cells are greater than [2.07] volts. Equalize and test battery cells when electrolyte level drops below the top of plates. Limits on average electrolyte temperature, battery connection resistances, and battery terminal voltage. Obtain specific gravity readings of all cells at each discharge test, consistent with manufacturer recommendations

ADVANTAGES
The most important feat of nuclear cells is

the life span they offer, a minimum of 10 years! Long durability power advantages will determine the economic feasibility of nuclear batteries. Taken care as the battery cases are hermetically sealed. The efficiency of such cells is much higher . Higher energy density.

DISADVANTAGE
The initial installation cost is much higher.

The use and disposal of nuclear material.

The size is higher over the conventional battery. The weight is heavier. Disaster situation with in handling radioactive

material.

CONCLUSION
The use of power as heat and electricity from

radioisotope will continue to be indispensable. . It would reason that small devices would need small batteries to power them. With implementation of this new technology credibility and feasibility of the device will be heightened. throughout the process of making a nuclear battery to final disposal all Radiation Protection Standards must be met. The economic feasibility of nuclear batteries will be determined by its applications and advantages. With several features being added to this little wonder

1/9/2011

1/9/2011