The document summarizes nuclear batteries, which directly convert heat from radioactive isotopes into electrical energy. There are two main types - thermal converters, which use temperature differences, and non-thermal converters, which extract energy as it degrades into heat. Key thermal converters include thermionic converters, radioisotope thermoelectric generators, and thermoelectric cells. Non-thermal converters include direct charging generators, betavoltaics (using beta particles), and optoelectronics. Promising isotopes identified for nuclear batteries include plutonium-238, curium-242, and polonium-210 due to their long lifespans and low shielding needs. Potential applications include uses in space, medical devices,

2. NUCLEAR
BATTERY
NUCLEAR
PRESENTED BY:
AKHIL M V
15050003
S5 AUTOMOBILE

3. * The Nuclear cell (or Nuclear battery) is a device that directly
converts the heat energy produced by a radioactive isotope
into electrical energy. The Nuclear cell (or) nuclear battery
can also be called as Atomic battery and Radioisotope
battery.
Introduction
* This system, which directly converts the heat, released
during radioactive decay into electricity.
* Like nuclear reactors they generate electricity from atomic
energy, but differ in that they do not use a chain reaction.
* The intermediate power range is 10 to 100 kilowatts(KW).
* These incredibly long-lasting batteries which provide clean
, safe and almost endless energy.
* They are working on the principles of thermoelectric
effect.

4. * In 1913,a English scientist H.G.J Moseley demonstrated the first nuclear
battery using a radium emitter.
Evolution
* He observed that the flow of charged particles created by radium produces
current.
* The field received considerable in-depth research attention for applications
requiring long-life power sources for space needs during the 1950s and 1960s.
* In 1954 RCA (Radio Corporation of America) researched a small atomic
battery for small radio receivers and hearing aids.
* In 1980’s , an American scientist Paul Brown invented the Radio isotopic
generating system . Which was a breakthrough in nuclear history.

5. Mainly they are classified in to two types.
Type of Converter in Nuclear cell
Nuclear Batteries
Thermal
Convertors
Non-
Thermal
Convertors

6. In thermal converters the output power is generated by the
function of a temperature differential. It include thermoelectric and
thermionic converters.
Thermal converters
1. Thermionic Converter
2. Radioisotope thermoelectric generator
3. Thermo photovoltaic Cells
4. Alkali-metal Thermal To Electric Converter

7. * It consist of two electrodes. One emitter electrode and a collector electrode.
* Caesium vapour is used to optimize the electrode work functions.

8. * It uses thermocouple for making the energy.
* Thermocouple is formed by two wires of different materials.
* Many wires are connected in series to produce large amount of current.

9. * Consists of a thermal emitter and a photovoltaic diode cell.
* The radiation is mostly at near infrared and infrared frequencies.
* It require little maintenance.

10. * The alkali-metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) is
an electrochemical system which is based on the electrolyte used in
the sodium-sulfur battery.
* No moving parts , except the working fluid.
* It is an electrochemical concentration cell, which converts the work
generated by expansion of sodium vapor directly into electric power.
4. Alkali-metal Thermal To Electric Converter

11. 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. Non-thermal generators can be grouped into three classes.
Non-thermal converters
1. Direct charging generators
2. Betavoltaics
4. Optoelectric
3. Alphavoltaics

12. * This method makes use of kinetic energy of alpha particles to generate
current.
* It consists of a core composed of radioactive elements.
* Primary generator consist of a LC circuit.

13. * Betavoltaics are generators of electrical current, in effect a form of
battery, which use energy from a radioactive source emitting beta
particles (electrons).
* A common source used is the hydrogen isotope, tritium.
* Betavoltaics use a non-thermal conversion process, using
a semiconductor p-n junction.

14. The only difference betavoltaics and alphavoltaics is that, here the
radioactive source will produce ‘alpha particles’. The electrons are emitted
by this alpha particles. All the process are same.

15. * A beta-emitter (such as technetium-99) would stimulate an excimer
mixture, and the light would power a photocell.
* Precision electrode assemblies are not needed, and most beta particles
escape the finely-divided bulk material to contribute to the battery's net
power.

16. Basically the nuclear cell can be classified as two types
1. High voltage Nuclear cell
2. Low voltage Nuclear cell
Types of Nuclear cell

17. * Two electrodes are used, one emitter and one collector.
* In between emitter and collector, a vacuum or a solid dielectric is placed.
* In this type, huge voltage is developed.
* The sources of radioisotope used in this technique are Strontium-90,
krypton-85 and tritium.
1. High-voltage Nuclear cell
Beta particles
Vacuum tube
Emitter Collector

18. * The nuclear cell consists of a safety container in which a radioactive material is
kept and used as fuel.
* The thermocouples are placed on the walls of the container and their outer ends
are connected to a heat sink.
* The thermocouple is known as thermoelectric converter consist of two dissimilar
metal (or) semiconductor and responsible for the heat conversion into current.
* The efficiency of the battery is about 3 to 7 percentage.
2. Low voltage Nuclear cell
238Pu
Heat
source
Cold
Sink V
Thermocouples
Safety container

19. A number of researches have been carried out to identify the
suitable radioactive isotope, which need lowest shielding and long
life. Among these,
1. Plutonium-238 ( 238Pu)
2. Curium-242 (242Cm)
3. polonium-210 (210Po)
4. Stronsium-90 (90Sr)
5. Cesium-144 (144Cs)
are found to be best candidate for Nuclear cell .

20. Space Applications
* Unaffected by long period of
darkness and radiation.
*High power for long time
independent of the atmospheric
conditions.

21. * It is on initial stages of development.
* Nuclear batteries could replace
conventional fuels then there will be
no case of running out of fuel.

22. * Due to increased longevity and
better reliability it is used in
pacemakers.

23. * Provides power in inaccessible
places like deep sea that should keep
working for a long time or under
extreme conditions like earthquake
and tsunami.

24.  Radioisotope power sources to
provide very high density battery
power to radio , equipment tags
sensors and ultra wide-band
communication.

25. * Life span- minimum of decades.
* 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.

26. * High initial cost of production as its in the experimental stage.
* Energy conversion methodologies are not much advanced.
* Regional and country-specific laws regarding use and disposal of radioactive
fuels.
* Highly emitted radiation cause problems to human body.

27. The world of tomorrow that science fiction & dreams of and
technology manifests might be a very small one. It would reason that small
devices would need small batteries to power them . The current research in
nuclear batteries shows promise in future applications. Implementation of
this new technology, feasibility of the device will be available for wide range
of application. Nuclear cells are going to be the next best thing ever
invented in human history.

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Douglas (2013). "Optimization of commercial scale photonuclear production
of radioisotopes".
 Lal, Amit; Rajesh Duggirala; Hui Li (2005). "Pervasive Power: A Radioisotope-
Powered Piezoelectric Generator“.
 Sheila G. Bailey, David M. Wilt, Ryne P. Raffaelle, and Stephanie L.
Castro, Alpha-Voltaic Power Source Designs Investigated Archived 16 July
2010 at the Wayback Machine.
 NASA Glenn Research Center, Alpha- and Beta-voltaics (accessed Oct. 4,
2011).