PPT on Nuclear Microbatteries

SEMINAR PRESENTATION ON

+ NUCLEAR MICROBATTERY -A PORTABLE ENERGY SOURCE

Submitted byPREMJEET SUMANROLL : 09EAXEC086Class : B. Tech (ECE) – 4th Year. College : Apex Institute of

Engineering & Technology, Jaipur.

CONTENTS

1.Why Nuclear Battery?2.Historical Developments3.Understanding the terms used.4.Energy Production Mechanism5.Fuel Considerations6.Applications7.Advantages8.Disadvantages9.Conclusion10.References

Q. WHY NUCLEAR BATTERY ???

ANSWER:

1. Chemical batteries require frequent replacements and are bulky.

2. Fuel and Solar cells are expensive and requires sunlight respectively.

3. Need for compact, reliable, light weight and long life power supplies.

4. Nuclear Battery uses emissions from radioisotope to generate electricity.

5. Nuclear batteries have lifespan up to decades.6. Can be used in extreme conditions and reduce

the rate of replacements.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

1. The idea of nuclear battery was introduced in the beginning of 1950, and was patented on March 3rd, 1959 to Tracer lab.

2. A radio isotope electric power system was developed by inventor Paul Brown which was a scientific break through in nuclear power.

3. Brown’s first prototype power cell produced 100,000 times as much energy per gram of strontium -90(the energy source) than the most powerful thermal battery yet in existence.

UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS USED

Radiations•Alpha - These are fast moving helium atoms.  They have high energy, typically in the MeV range. They also are magnetic in nature •Beta - These are fast moving electrons.  They typically have energies in the range of a few hundred keV to several MeV.•Gamma - These are photons, just like light, except of much higher energy.

RadioisotopesRadioisotopes are artificially produced, unstable atoms of a chemical element, which have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus, but the same number of protons and the same chemical properties.

ENERGY PRODUCTION MECHANISM

1. Betavoltaics

1. Betavoltaics is an alternative energy technology that promises vastly extended battery life and power density over current technologies.

2. Uses energy from beta particles.3. Beta particles emitted by radioactive gas is captured in

Silicon wafer coated with diode material.4. It is similar to the mechanics of converting sunlight

into electricity in a solar panel.5. Absorbed radiation creates electron-hole pair which in

turn results 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.

2. DIRECT CHARGING GENERATORS

Summary

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.

1 – Capacitor 2 – Inductor 3 – Core with radioactive elements 4 – Transformer T primary winding 5 – Resistance 6 _ Secondary winding 7 _ Load

Schematic Diagram of an LC Resonant Circuit

1

2 34

5

6

7

EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF DIRECT CHARGING GENERATOR

1 – Capacitor 2 – Inductor 3 – Core with radioactive elements 4 – Transformer T primary winding 6 _ Secondary winding 7 _ Load

Load

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

APPLICATIONS

1. Space applications: Unaffected by long period of darkness and

radiation. Compact and lighter in weight. Can avoid refrigeration/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.

2. Medical applications: In Cardiac pacemakers. Batteries should have reliability and longevity to avoid frequent replacements.

3. Mobile devices:Nuclear powered laptop battery Xcell-N has 7000-8000 times more life than normal laptop batteries.

4. AutomobilesNo need for frequent recharging as in case of present electric vehicles.

APPLICATIONS

ADVANTAGES

Life span- minimum of 10 years.

Reliable electricity.

Amount of energy obtained is very high.

Lighter with high energy density.

Less waste generation.

Reduces green house and associated effects

Fuel used is the nuclear waste from nuclear fission.

DRAWBACKS

High initial cost of production as its in the experimental stage

Regional and country-specific laws regarding use and disposal of radioactive fuels.

To gain social acceptance.

CONCLUSION

Small compact devices of future require small batteries.

Nuclear batteries increase functionality, reliability and longevity.

Until final disposal all Radiation Protection Standards must be met.

Batteries of the near future.

REFERENCES

1.http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/the-daintiest-dynamos

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_battery

3.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2050039,00.html

4.http://www.seminarsonly.com/electrical%20&%20electronics/Nuclear%20Batteries.php

QUERIES???