+ NUCLEAR

SEMINAR ON

BATTERY -

Presented By

Guided By

Mohit Singh Bhandari 3rd year (EEE)

Prof. Mohit Tyagi Assistant Professor

Vidya College Of Engineering Meerut

CONTENTS
Why

Nuclear Battery ???

Historical
Energy Fuel

Developments

Production Mechanism

Considerations

Advantages Disadvantages Applications Conclusion

Q. Why Nuclear Battery ???

ANSWERS :
Need

for compact reliable light weight and selfbatteries require frequent

contained power supplies.

Chemical

replacements and are bulky.

Fuel

and Solar cells are expensive and requires be used in inaccessible and extreme

sunlight respectively.
Can

conditions.

 Nuclear

batteries have lifespan upto

decades and nearly 200 times more efficient.

Do

not rely on nuclear reaction , so no

radioactive wastes.
Uses

emissions from radioactive isotope to

generate electricity.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Idea

was introduced in 1950 and patented to

electric power system developed by

Tracer Lab.
Radioisotope

Paul Brown.
He

organized an approach to harness energy from

the magnetic field of alpha and beta particles using Radium-226.

Low

efficiency due to loss of electrons.

ENERGY PRODUCTION MECHANISMS

Betavoltaics :
Uses Provides

energy from beta particles. extended battery life and power

density.
Beta

particles from radioactive gas captured in

Si wafer coated with diode material.

Absorbed Results

radiation creates electron-hole pair.

in the generation of electric current

Representation of basic beta voltaic conversion

Electrode A (P-region) has a positive potential while electrode B (N-region) is negative.

 Before

the radioactive source is introduced , no

current flows as the electrical forces are in

equilibrium.
As

a beta emitter is introduced , electrons are

knocked out by its energy.

Generates When

electron-hole pairs in the junction.

beta particle imparts more than ionization

potential the electron rises to a higher level.

Potential

difference drives electrons from electrode

A through the load where they give up the energy.

Direct Charging Generators:

This method makes use of kinetic energy as well as

the magnetic property of Alpha particles to

generate current.

It consists of a core composed of radioactive elements. Primary generator consists of a LC tank circuit. LC circuit produces the oscillations required for transformer operation.

Schematic Diagram of an LC resonant circuit

1 Capacitor 2 Inductor 3 Core with radioactive elements

4 Transformer T primary winding

5 Resistance 6 _ Secondary winding 7 _ Load

WORKING

Oscillations induced in LCR circuit damp out due to loss of energy. Here energy is imparted to the alpha particles during the decay of elements in the core. This energy is introduced to circuit when alpha particles are absorbed by the inductor. Oscillations sustain until amount of energy absorbed=amount of energy dissipated in ohmic resistance. This excess energy is delivered to the load connected across transformer T secondary winding.

FUEL CONSIDERATIONS
The

major criterions considered in the selection of fuels are:

Avoidance of gamma in the decay chain Half life( Should be more) Cost should be less.

Any radioisotope in the form of a solid that gives off alpha or beta particles can be utilized in the nuclear battery. The most powerful source of energy known is radium-226. However Strontium-90 may also be used in this Battery

ADVANTAGES
Life

span- minimum of 10 years.

Reliable
Amount Lighter

electricity.
of energy highest.

with high energy density.

Efficient Reduces Fuel

green house and associated effects.

used is the nuclear waste from nuclear fission.

DISADVANTAGES
High

initial cost of production conversion methodologies are not much

Energy

advanced.
Regional

and country-specific laws regarding use

and disposal of radioactive fuels.

To

gain social acceptance.

APPLICATIONS

Space applications:
Unaffected by long period of darkness and radiation
Compact and lighter in weight. Can avoid heating equipments required for storage

batteries.

High power for long time independent of atmospheric conditions.

NASA is trying to harness this technology in space

applications.

 Medical

applications:

In Cardiac pacemakers

Batteries should have reliability and longevity to

avoid frequent replacements.

Mobile devices:

Nuclear powered laptop battery Xcell-N has 7000 - 8000 times life. more

No need for charging, battery replacing.

 Automobiles:

No need for frequent recharging as in case of

present electric vehicles.

Military applications Safe, longer life Under-water sea probes and sea sensors: In sensors working for long time.

At inaccessible and extreme conditions.

Use in coal mines and polar sensor applications

too.

CONCLUSION
Small

compact devices of future require small

batteries.
Nuclear

batteries increase functionality, reliability

and longevity.
Batteries With

of the near future.

several features being added to this, nuclear

cells are going to be next best thing ever invented in the human history.

THANK YOU

REFERENCES
Brown

Paul: "Resonant Nuclear Battery Supply",

Raum & Zeit, 1(3) (August-September, 1989)

Galina

N. Yakubova, Ph.D. Department of Nuclear,

Plasma and Radiological Engineering University of

Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010 J. F. Stubbins,

Advisor, NUCLEAR BATTERIES
www.ieeeexplorer.com www.technologyreview.com www.wikipedia.com/atomic_battery