PRESENTATION ON NUCLEAR BATTERY Submitted By:Sandeep MeenaUE114055 EEE 8th Sem.

ContentIntroductionHistorical DevelopmentTypes of Nuclear BatteriesFuel ConsiderationAdvantagesApplicationsConclusion

IntroductionThe terms atomic battery, nuclear battery, tritium battery and radioisotope generator are used to describe a device which uses energy from the decay of a radioactive isotope to generate electricity.Need for compact, reliable, light weight and self-contained power supplies.Chemical batteries require frequent replacements and are bulky.No fission reaction is used.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTSNuclear battery technology began in 1913, when Henry Moseley first demonstrated the beta cell. Patented to Tracer Lab in 1950.Radioisotope electric power system was developed by Paul Brown.He organized an approach to harness energy from the magnetic field of alpha and beta particles using Radium-226.

Types of Nuclear BatteriesBetavoltaicOptoelectricReciprocating electromechanical batteryDirect charging generatorsAlphavoltaics

1. THERMAL CONVERTER The thermal converters are the devices which convert heat energy to electrical energy i.e. whose output power is a function of a temperature differential. Thermal converters are also classified into following types:Thermionic ConvertersRadioisotope thermoelectric generatorThermo photovoltaic cellsAlkali-metal thermal to electric converter

Thermionic ConvertersA thermionic converter consists of a hot electrode which thermionically emits electrons over a potential energy barrier to a cooler electrode, producing a useful electric power output. Cesium atoms adsorbed on the electrode surfaces to produce sufficent ion supply

Thermo-photovoltic Cells

Alkali-metal thermal to electric converter

2. NON-THERMAL CONVERTERS Non-thermal converters extract a fraction of the nuclear energy as it is being degraded into heat. Their outputs are not functions of temperature differences as are thermoelectric and thermionic converters. Non-thermal generators can be grouped into following classes:BetavotaicAlphavoltaicsDirect charging generatorsOptoelectricReciprocating electromechanical battery

BetavotaicBefore 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.

AlphavoltaicsAlpha voltaic power sources are devices that use a semiconductor junction to produce electrical particle from energetic alpha particles.This technique is same as Betavoltaic.Only difference is used of alpha particles instead of beta particle.

Reciprocating electromechanical batteryHigh-energyelectronsRadioactive sourceCopper sheetSilicon cantileverPiezoelectric PlateMeasuring Device1. Beta particles (high-energy electrons) fly spontaneously from the radioactivesource and hit the copper sheet, where they accumulate.2. Electrostatic attraction between the copper sheet and the radioactive sourcebends the silicon cantilever and the piezoelectric plate on top of it.

3. When the cantilever bends to the point where the copper sheet touches theradioactive source, the electrons flow back to it, and the attractive force ceases.4. The cantilever then oscillates, and the mechanical stress in the piezoelectric platecreates an imbalance in its charge distribution, resulting in an electric current.

FUEL CONSIDERATIONSAvoiding gamma rays in decay chain.Ra-226 produces Bi-214.Strong gamma radiation.Shielding makes it bulky.Half life.Cost.

Main FuelNickel-63 (Ni-63)Strontium-90 (Sr-90)Promitium-147 (Pm-147)Tin-121 (Sn-121)Tantalum-180

ADVANTAGESLife span- minimum of 10 years.Reliable electricity.Amount of energy is highest.Lighter with high energy density.Efficient, less waste generation.Reduces green house and associated effects.Fuel used is the nuclear waste from nuclear fission.

APPLICATIONSSpace ApplicationsMedical ApplicationsMobile DevicesAutomobilesMilitary ApplicationsUnder water Sea Sensors

CONCLUSIONSmall compact devices of future require small batteries.Nuclear batteries increase functionality, reliability and longevity.Batteries of the near future.

REFERENCEPower from radioisotopes, USAEC, Division of Technical InformationPowerstream.comPowerpaper.comTechnologyreview.comWikipedia.com/atomic battery

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