+ NUCLEAR

SEMINAR PRESENTATION ON

A PORTABLE ENERGY SOURCE

MICROBATTERY

Submitted by PREMJEET SUMAN

ROLL : 09EAXEC086 Class : B. Tech (ECE) 4th Year. College : Apex Institute of Engineering & Technology, Jaipur.

CONTENTS
1. Why Nuclear Battery? 2. Historical Developments 3. Understanding the terms used. 4. Energy Production Mechanism 5. Fuel Considerations 6. Applications 7. Advantages 8. Disadvantages 9. Conclusion 10.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. Browns 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

Radioisotopes

Radioisotopes 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. 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.

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.

Schematic Diagram of an LC Resonant Circuit

2 1 3 4 6 7

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

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.

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 70008000 times more life than normal laptop batteries. 4. Automobiles No need for frequent recharging as in case of present electric vehicles.

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/thedaintiest-dynamos
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_battery 3. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,20 50039,00.html

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

QUERIES?