POWERPOINT

PRESENTATION
ON
NUCLEAR BATTERIES
NUCLEAR BATTERIES

 Submitted by
 Sreelakshmy MR
 S7,EEE
 Roll no:7
 SNMIMT
CONTENTS
 Introduction

 Nuclear Battery
 Types
 Why Nuclear Battery???
 Historical Developments

 Energy Production Mechanism

 Fuel Considerations
 Advantages

 Disadvantages
 Applications
 Conclusion
 Acknowlwdgement

 Bibliography
INTRODUCTION
 The term Nuclear Battery describes a device which
uses energy from the decay of a radioactive isotope to
generate Electricity.

 Like nuclear reactors they generate Electricity from

atomic energy, but differ in that they do not use a chain
reaction.

 Also known as Atomic battery, Tritium Battery and

Radioisotope Generator.
 NUCLEAR BATTERIES
 Use incredible amount of energy released
naturally by tiny bits of radioactive material
without any fission or fusion taking place inside
the battery.
 These devices use thin Radioactive films that

pack in energy at densities thousands of times

greater than those of lithium-ion batteries.
 Because of the high energy density, nuclear

batteries are extremely small in size.

 Because of their small size and shape, they are

known as “DAINTIEST DYNAMO”.

Types of nuclear batteries

 Scientists have developed two types of micro

nuclear batteries

 JUNCTION TYPE BATTERY

 SELF RECIPROCATING CANTILEVER BATTERY

 1.JUNCTION TYPE BATTERY
This kind of nuclear batteries directly converts the high energy particles emitted by a radioactive source into an electric current.
This device consist of a small quantity of Ni-63 laced near an ordinary silicon p-n junction.

 WORKING
 As Ni-63 decays it emits beta particles, which
are high energy electrons that spontaneously fly
out of the radioisotope’s unstable nucleus.
 The emitted beta particles ionize the diode’s
atoms, exciting unpaired electrons and holes that
are separated at the vicinity of the p-n interface.
These separated electrons and holes streams away
from the junction, producing current.
CONSTRUCTION
 Since it is not easy to micro fabricate radio active materials, a liquid
source is used instead for the micro machined p-n junction battery.

MICRO MACHINED
P-N JUNCTION

 In order to measure the performance of the 3D p-n junction in the

presence of a radio active source, a pipette is used to place 8ml of
liquid Ni-63 inside the channels micro machined on top of the p-n
junction. It is then covered with a black box to shield it from the light.
The electric circuit used for these
experiments:
2.SELF-RECIPROCATING CANTILEVER
 This concept involves a more direct use of
the charged particles produced by the decay of the
radio active source: the reaction of resonator by
inducing movement due to attraction or repulsion
resulting from the collection of charged particles.
 As the charge is collected ,the deflection of a
cantilever beam increases until it contacts a
grounded element, thus discharging the beam and
causing it to return to its original position. This
process will repeat as long as the source is active.
This has been tested experimentally.
Fig shows experimental setup of self
reciprocating cantilever
CONSTRUCTION
 The self reciprocating cantilever consists of a radioactive
source of thickness very small and of area 4sq mm.

 Above this thin film there is a cantilever beam. It is made

of a rectangular piece of silicon. Its free end is able to
move up and down.

 On this cantilever beam there is a copper sheet attached

to it. Also above this cantilever there is a piezoelectric
plate.

 So the self-reciprocating cantilever type nuclear batteries

are also called as radio active piezo electric generator.
WORKING
 The highly energized beta particles fly
spontaneously from the radio active source. These
electrons get collected on the Cu sheet.Cu sheet become
–ve charged. Thus electrostatic force of attraction s
established between the silicon cantilever and radio active
source. Due to this force the cantilever bends down.

 The piezoelectric material bounded to the

top of the silicon cantilever bends along with it. The
mechanical stresses of the bend unbalances the charge
distribution inside the piezo electric crystal structure,
producing a voltage in electrodes attached to the top and
bottom of the crystal.
…
 After a brief period-whose length depends on the
shape and material of the cantilever and the initial size of
the gap- the cantilever comes close enough to the source
to discharge the accumulated electrons by direct contact.

 The discharge can also takes place through tunneling or

gas breakdown. At that moment, electrons flow back to the
source, and the electrostatic attractive force vanishes.

 The cantilever then springs back and oscillates like a

diving board after a diver jumps, and the recurring
mechanical deformation of the piezo electric plate
produces a series of electric pulses.
 Why nuclear battery ?
Compact, reliable and
light weight power
supplies.
Chemical batteries require
frequent recharging and
are bulky.
Fuel and solar cells
requires simultaneous
supply of fuels.
Nuclear batteries have
 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS
 Nuclear battery technology began in
1913,when Henry Moseley first demonstrated
the beta cell.
 The field received considerable in-depth
research attention for applications requiring
log-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.
MECANISM OF NUCLEAR BATTERIES
 This battery is named as nuclear batteries
because it is designed by nuclear radioactive
elements that decay to reach stable state
Conversion technologies:
Conversion techniques can be grouped into
two types:

 Thermal : whose output power is a function

of a temperature differential.

 Non-thermal : whose output power is not a

function of a temperature difference.
 THERMAL CONVERTERS
 Thermionic converter.

 Radioisotope thermoelectric generator.

 Thermo photovoltaic cells.

 Alkali-metal thermal to electric converter.

 Stirling radioisotope generator.

 NON-THERMAL CONVERTERS
 Direct charging generators.

 Betavoltaics.

 Alphavoltaics.

 Optoelectric.

 Reciprocating electromechanical Atomic

Batteries.
 APPLICATIONS
 They have extremely long life and high energy
density, and so they are mainly used as power
sources for equipment that must operate
unattended for long period of time, such as

 Space craft
 Pacemakers
 Under water systems
 Automated scientific stations in remote parts
of the world.
 ADVANTAGES
 Life span-minimum of decades.
 Reliable electricity.
 Amount of energy obtained is very high.
 Lighter with high energy density.
 Less waste generation.
 Reduces greenhouse and associated

effects.
 Fuel used is the nuclear waste from

nuclear fission.
 DISADVANTAGES
 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.

 To gain social acceptance.

 CONCLUSION

 Clearly the current research of nuclear

batteries shows promise in future
applications for sure.

 With implementation of this new technology

credibility and feasibility of the device will be
heightened.
 REFERENCE
 1.B.C Blanke,J.H.Birden,K.C.Jordan and
E.L.Murphy,”Nuclear battery-Thermocouple
type summary report,”U.S.A.E.Commision.
 M.A.Prelas and S.K.Loyalka,”a review of the

utilisation of energetic ions for the

production of excited atomic and molecular
states and chemical synthesis,”Progress in
nuclear energy,vol 8.1981.
 IEEE –seminar topics
THANKYOU