Radioisotope Battery: STUDENT NAME: Tarun Gupta USN:1MJ17ME141

An Autonomous Institution
Affiliated to VTU, Belagavi,

Approved by AICTE, New Delhi,
Recognised by UGC with 2(f) & 12 ( B)
Accredited by NBA & NAAC
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
SEMINAR ON
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERY
STUDENT NAME : Tarun Gupta

USN:1MJ17ME141
1
CONTENTS:
1) Introduction
2) Classification of Atomic Batteries
3) Working of Atomic Batteries
4) Sources of Nuclear Fuel
5) Case Study- NDB
6) Applications
7) Advantages and Disadvantages
8) Inferences
9) Reference
Approved by AICTE |Affiliated to VTU | Recognized by UGC with 2(f) & 12(B) status |Accredited by NBA and NAAC 2
INTRODUCTION:
• An atomic battery, radioisotope battery or radioisotope generator is a device which uses energy from the decay of
a radioactive isotope to generate electricity. Like nuclear reactors, they generate electricity from nuclear energy, but differ
in that they do not use a chain reaction.
• Nuclear battery technology began in 1913, when Henry Moseley first demonstrated a current generated by charged
particle radiation.
• In 1954 RCA researched a small atomic battery for small radio receivers and hearing aids.
• It extracts electrical energy from nuclear sources.
Classification of Radioisotope Batteries:
Thermionic Conversion
Thermal
Thermoelectric Conversion
Convertors
Thermophotovoltaic Conversion
Stirling Generators
Direct Charging Generator
Nuclear Batteries Electromechanical Conversion

Electrostatic Conversion
Alphavoltaic Conversion
Radiovoltaic Conversion Betavoltaic Conversion

Gammavoltaic Conversion
Non-Thermal
Convertors Alphaphotovoltaic Conversion
Radiophotovoltaic conversion Betaphotovoltaic Conversion
Gammaphotovoltaic Conversion
Thermal Converters
Thermionic Converter
• A thermionic converter consists of a hot electrode, which thermionically emits electrons over a space-charge
barrier to a cooler electrode, producing a useful power output. Cesium vapor is used to optimize the
electrode work functions and provide an ion supply (by surface ionization) to neutralize the electron space
charge.
Thermionic Converter
Thermoelectric conversion:
• A radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) uses thermocouples. Each thermocouple is formed from two wires of
different metals (or other materials). A temperature gradient along the length of each wire produces a voltage
gradient from one end of the wire to the other; but the different materials produce different voltages per degree of
temperature difference. By connecting the wires at one end, heating that end but cooling the other end, a usable, but
small (millivolts), voltage is generated between the unconnected wire ends.
radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)

Thermophotovoltaic Conversion
• Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells work by the same principles as a photovoltaic cell, except that they convert infrared light
(rather than visible light) emitted by a hot surface, into electricity. Thermophotovoltaic cells have an efficiency slightly
higher than thermoelectric couples and can be overlaid on thermoelectric couples, potentially doubling efficiency.
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell
Stirling generators
• A Stirling radioisotope generator is a Stirling engine driven by the temperature difference produced by a
radioisotope.
• The Stirling radioisotope generator (SRG) is a type of radioisotope generator based on a Stirling
engine powered by a large radioisotope heater unit.
• The Stirling generators were extensively tested on Earth by NASA, but their development was cancelled in
2013 before they could be deployed on actual spacecraft missions.
Stirling radioisotope generator
Non Thermal Converters
Non-thermal converters extract energy from emitted radiation before it is degraded into heat. Unlike thermoelectric
and thermionic converters their output does not depend on the temperature difference.
Electrostatic conversion
Energy can be extracted from emitted charged particles when their charge builds up in a conductor, thus creating
an electrostatic potential.
Electric Field of Conductors
Direct-charging generator:
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.
Electromechanical conversion
Electromechanical atomic batteries use the buildup of charge between two plates to pull one bendable plate
towards the other, until the two plates touch, discharge, equalizing the electrostatic buildup, and spring back.
The mechanical motion produced can be used to produce electricity through flexing of a piezoelectric material or
through a linear generator.
Voltage from Piezoelectric Material
Radio-voltaic conversion
A radio-voltaic (RV) device converts the energy of ionizing radiation directly into electricity using a semiconductor
junction.
Depending on the type of radiation targeted, these devices are called alpha-voltaic (AV, αV), beta-voltaic (BV, βV)
and/or gamma-voltaic (GV, γV).
• Alpha-voltaic conversion
Alpha-voltaic devices use a semiconductor junction to produce electrical energy from energetic alpha particles.
• Beta-voltaic conversion
Beta-voltaic devices use a semiconductor junction to produce electrical energy from energetic beta particles (electrons). A
commonly used source is the hydrogen isotope tritium.
Beta-voltaic devices are particularly well-suited to low-power electrical applications where long life of the energy source is
needed, such as implantable medical devices or military and space applications.
• Gamma-voltaic conversion
Gamma-voltaic devices use a semiconductor junction to produce electrical energy from energetic gamma
particles (high-energy photons). They have only recently (in the 2010s) been considered.
Radio-photovoltaic (opto-electric) conversion

In a radio-photovoltaic (RPV) device the energy conversion is indirect: the emitted particles are first converted into light
using a radio-luminescent material (a scintillator or phosphor), and the light is then converted into electricity using
a photovoltaic cell.
Depending on the type of particle targeted, the conversion type can be more precisely specified as alpha-
photovoltaic (APV or α-PV), beta-photovoltaic (BPV or β-PV) or gamma-photovoltaic (GPV or γ-PV).
Phosphorescence PV Cell
13
Sources of Nuclear Fuel:
Case Study : The self-charging green Nano Diamond Battery
Construction:
The radioactive core is protected with multiple layers of synthetic
diamonds or polycrystalline diamond.
Working:
DNV as a device is a combination of a semiconductor, metal and
ceramic which has two contact surfaces to facilitate charge collection.
Several single units are attached together to create a stack
arrangement, which is fabricated to create a positive and negative
contact surface similar to a common battery system.
Nano Diamond Battery
18
• The thin-film profile exhibited by NDB allows radiation absorption in the single crystalline diamond with
minimal self adsorption. Due to its flexible design structure, this technology can take any shape and form in
accordance to the application. This makes NDB’s battery system market friendly.
• NDB technology has utilized alpha, beta, and neutron radiations using boron-10 doping, helping to convert
the extra neutron into the alpha ray. This design also enables the rapid conversion of radiation to usable
electricity.
• NDB uses radioactive waste and reuses them by reprocessing and recycling. This technology ensures
sustainability and gives rise to a clean energy source, and Achieving this has the added advantage of ensuring
environmental safety.
19
Advantages
• Long Lifespan- minimum in decades
• Reliable amount of Electrical discharge
• Very High Power Density with lighter Weight
• Less Waste Generation
• Reduces green house gasses and its associated effects
• It consumes up the discarded Nuclear Fuel from Nuclear fission Reactor.
Disadvantages
• High initial cost of Production as it is in experimental stage, while its demand is low.
• Energy conversion methodologies are not much advanced
• Regional and country-specific laws regarding use and disposal of radioactive fuels.
• Not much social acceptance.
20
APPLICATIONS:
In Medical field:
Pacemakers
• 3 Ci Pu-238
• 85g , 7.62cm
• <mW power levels
• 10years battery life
Hearing Aids
In Electronics:
Nuclear powered laptop battery Xcell-N has 7000 - 8000 times more recharge cycles
It can power various mobile devices Pacemakers
Automotive
NDB battery could bring about a revolution in the world of electric cars.
Defense:
NDB can be used in surveillance systems, Satellites and electronics.
Satellite
INFERENCES:
• Nuclear batteries have an increased functionality, reliability and longevity, over the Li-ion Batteries
predominant in the current market.
• Eliminates the issue related to Battery leakage like corrosion and environmental contamination
• Small compact devices of future require small batteries, and Nuclear Batteries support the same.
• It utilizes Nuclear wastes from Nuclear Power Plants to generate electricity, thereby reducing nuclear waste
and issues related to its disposal.
• Reduces the hassle of Recharging the Battery.
REFERENCES:
[1] Brown Paul: "Resonant Nuclear Battery Supply", Raum & Zeit, 1(3) (August-September, 1989)
[2] Suhas Kumar, Dept. Of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Atomic Batteries- Energy from
Radioactivity
[3] 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’
[4] https://ndb.technology/technology/
[5] https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5591
[6] https://ndb.technology/technology/
[7] http://nuclear.gov/space/rhu-fact.html
MVJ College of Engineering
Near ITPB, Whitefield
Bangalore-560 067
M: principalengg@mvjce.edu.in
Thank You
P: +91 80 4299 1040

Radioisotope Battery: STUDENT NAME: Tarun Gupta USN:1MJ17ME141

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An Autonomous Institution

Affiliated to VTU, Belagavi,

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

STUDENT NAME : Tarun Gupta

Nuclear Batteries Electromechanical Conversion

Radiovoltaic Conversion Betavoltaic Conversion

Radiophotovoltaic conversion Betaphotovoltaic Conversion

radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG)

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell

Stirling radioisotope generator

Electric Field of Conductors

Voltage from Piezoelectric Material

Radio-photovoltaic (opto-electric) conversion

• Reduces the hassle of Recharging the Battery.

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