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Energy Storage and Transmission
Published in Robert Ehrlich, Harold A. Geller, Renewable Energy, 2017
Robert Ehrlich, Harold A. Geller
Nuclear batteries are not tiny nuclear reactors, which are not possible—do you know why? Instead, they use the heat from the radioactive decay of some isotope and use it to generate electricity using the thermoelectric effect discussed in Chapter 12. Nuclear batteries have been used for many years, mostly in applications needing very long lifetime and high energy density, such as outer space or underwater military systems. Although most existing nuclear batteries are quite costly, as well as being large and heavy, research is ongoing to create much smaller, lighter, and more efficient versions. One research group at the University of Missouri has created a nuclear battery thinner than a penny and, in the future, hopes to produce a battery thinner than a human hair (Figure 13.15). Although many people might balk at the idea of a nuclear battery powering their pacemaker, the radioactivity is contained within the battery since the emitted radiation lacks the range to escape, and consequently, they have been used for such implanted medical devices. Disposal of used nuclear batteries would add a very minor amount to the existing problem of disposing of low-level radioactive waste. In contrast, disposing of much more numerous car batteries can be a major environmental issue if simply dumped in landfills.
Energy Storage and Transmission
Published in Robert Ehrlich, Harold A. Geller, John R. Cressman, Renewable Energy, 2023
Robert Ehrlich, Harold A. Geller, John R. Cressman
Although many people might balk at the idea of a nuclear battery powering their pacemaker, the radioactivity is contained within the battery since the emitted radiation lacks the range to escape, and consequently, they have been used for such implanted medical devices. Disposal of used nuclear batteries would add a very minor amount to the existing problem of disposing of low-level radioactive waste. In contrast, disposing of much more numerous car batteries can be a major environmental issue if simply dumped in landfills.
Recent progress in diamond radiation detectors
Published in Functional Diamond, 2022
In this section, we will introduce a nuclear battery as a technology similar to radiation detectors. Nuclear battery is a device that converts energy from radiation into electricity. The cells consist of radioisotopes and the diodes. It has similar operating principle as a solar cell and uses a semiconductor junction for the energy conversion [90]. The longevity of the battery depends on the half-life of the radioisotope and radiation tolerance of the cell (diode). For long operation, low energy beta emitting radioisotopes are suitable to mitigate irradiation induced damage for diodes. Using 3H (T1/2 = 12yrs), 63Ni (T1/2 = 100yrs) as the beta-source, a long operating time from several years to decades can be realized. X-ray voltaic batteries are also used for this purpose. Alpha-voltaic batteries offer higher energy density than these two types of batteries, however irradiation by heavy ion induces damage for diodes, and it degrades energy conversion efficiency [91–93].
Optimization of Beta Radioluminescent Batteries with Different Radioisotopes: A Theoretical Study
Published in Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2021
Hosein Moayedi, Soheil Hajibaba, Hossein Afarideh, Mitra Ghergherehchi, Masoumeh Mohamadian
The radioluminescent nuclear battery is a type of energy conversion device that can convert nuclear energy into light energy and again into electrical energy. A common radioluminescent device consists of a layer of phosphor material that is connected from one side to a semiconductor and from the other side bombarded with photons emitted from X-ray, gamma, or light sources. The phosphor layer gets excited through radiation absorption and emits visible light. Finally, the semiconductor absorbs the visible light and converts it into electrical energy. The total conversion efficiencies of radioluminescent nuclear batteries are lower than those of other nuclear batteries, ranging from 0.03% to 1% (Refs. 5 through 8)6731.