NUCLEAR BATTERY

CONTENTS
Why Nuclear Battery ???
Historical Developments
Energy Production Mechanism
Fuel Considerations
Advantages
Disadvantages
Applications
Conclusion

Why nuclear battery?

Need for compact reliable light weight and

self-contained power supplies.

Chemical batteries require frequent

replacements and are bulky.

Fuel and Solar cells are expensive and

requires sunlight respectively.

Can be used in inaccessible and extreme

conditions.

Nuclear batteries have lifespan of decades

and nearly 200 times more efficient.

Do not rely on nuclear reaction , so no

radioactive wastes.
Uses emissions from radioactive isotope

to generate electricity.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Idea was introduced in 1950 and patented to

Tracer Lab.
Radioisotope electric power system developed

by Paul Brown.
He organized an approach to harness energy

from the magnetic field of alpha and beta

particles using Radium-226.
Low efficiency due to loss of electrons.

ENERGY PRODUCTION
MECHANISMS
Betavoltaics :
Uses energy from beta particles.
Provides extended battery life and power

density.
Beta particles from radioactive gas captured

in Si wafer coated with diode material.

Absorbed radiation creates electron-hole pair.
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.

Before the radioactive source is introduced , no

current flows as the electrical forces are in

equilibrium.
As a beta emitter is introduced , electrons are

knocked out by its energy.

Generates electron-hole pairs in the junction.
When beta particle imparts more than ionization

potential the electron rises to a higher level.

Potential difference drives electrons from electrode

A through the load where they give up the energy.

Direct Charging Generators:

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

WORKING
Oscillations induced in LCR circuit damp out due to loss

of energy.
Here energy is imparted to the alpha particles during the

decay of elements in the core.

This energy is introduced to circuit when alpha particles

are absorbed by the inductor.

Oscillations sustain until amount of energy

absorbed=amount of energy dissipated in ohmic

resistance.
This excess energy is delivered to the load connected

across transformer T secondary winding.

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

ADVANTAGES
Life span- minimum of 10 years.
Reliable electricity.
Amount of energy highest.
Lighter with high energy density.
Efficient
Reduces green house and associated effects.
Fuel used is the nuclear waste from nuclear

fission.

DISADVANTAGES
High initial cost of production
Energy conversion methodologies are not

much advanced.
Regional and country-specific laws regarding

use and disposal of radioactive fuels.

To gain social acceptance.

APPLICATIONS
Space applications:
Unaffected by long period of darkness and radiation
Compact and lighter in weight.
Can avoid 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.

Medical applications:
In Cardiac pacemakers
Batteries should have reliability and longevity to

avoid frequent replacements .

Mobile devices:

Nuclear powered laptop battery Xcell-N has 7000 - 8000 times

more

life.

No need for charging, battery replacing.

Automobiles:
No need for frequent recharging as in case of

present electric vehicles.

Military applications
Safe, longer life

Under-water sea probes and sea sensors:

In sensors working for long time.
At inaccessible and extreme conditions.
Use in coal mines and polar sensor applications

too.

Small compact devices of future require small

batteries.
Nuclear batteries increase functionality,

reliability and longevity.

Batteries of the near future.
With several features being added to this,

nuclear cells are going to be next best thing

ever invented in the human history.

REFERENCES
Mark A. Prelas, Charles L. Weaver A review of

nuclear batteries Progress in nuclear Energy 75

(2014) 117-148
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
www.ieeeexplorer.com
www.technologyreview.com
www.wikipedia.com/atomic_battery

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