SEMINAR ON
+ NUCLEAR BATTERY -
Presented ByRahul V. Lilare
Final year (EEE)
Guided ByProf. A. S. DahaneAssistant Professor
Prof. Ram Meghe College Of Engineering & Management,Badnera-Amravati
CONTENTSWhy Nuclear Battery ???
Historical Developments
Energy Production Mechanism
Fuel Considerations
Advantages
Disadvantages
Applications
Conclusion
Q. Why Nuclear Battery ???
ANSWERS :Need for compact reliable light weight and
self-contained power supplies.
Chemical batteries require frequent
replacements and are bulky.
Fuel and Solar cells are expensive and
requires sunlight respectively.
Can be used in inaccessible and extreme
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
Tracer Lab.
Radioisotope electric power system developed by
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 energy from beta particles.
Provides extended battery life and power
density.
Beta particles from radioactive gas captured
in Si wafer coated with diode material.
Absorbed radiation creates electron-hole pair.
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.
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 electron-hole pairs in the junction.
When 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
WORKINGOscillations 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 CONSIDERATIONSThe 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
ADVANTAGESLife span- minimum of 10 years.
Reliable electricity.
Amount of energy highest.
Lighter with high energy density.
Efficient
Reduces green house and associated effects.
Fuel used is the nuclear waste from nuclear
fission.
DISADVANTAGESHigh initial cost of production
Energy conversion methodologies are not
much 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 more life.
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.
CONCLUSIONSmall compact devices of future require
small batteries.
Nuclear batteries increase functionality,
reliability and longevity.
Batteries of the near future.
With several features being added to this,
nuclear cells are going to be next best thing
ever invented in the human history.
THANK YOU
REFERENCESBrown 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