WO2006137910A2 - Conversion directe d'emissions nucleaires alpha/beta en energie electromagnetique - Google Patents

Conversion directe d'emissions nucleaires alpha/beta en energie electromagnetique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006137910A2
WO2006137910A2 PCT/US2005/036822 US2005036822W WO2006137910A2 WO 2006137910 A2 WO2006137910 A2 WO 2006137910A2 US 2005036822 W US2005036822 W US 2005036822W WO 2006137910 A2 WO2006137910 A2 WO 2006137910A2
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Prior art keywords
cell
alpha
emitter
beta
gas
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PCT/US2005/036822
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English (en)
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WO2006137910A3 (fr
Inventor
Alfred Y. Wong
Glenn Rosenthal
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Nonlinear Ion Dynamics, Llc
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Application filed by Nonlinear Ion Dynamics, Llc filed Critical Nonlinear Ion Dynamics, Llc
Publication of WO2006137910A2 publication Critical patent/WO2006137910A2/fr
Priority to US11/734,919 priority Critical patent/US20080001497A1/en
Publication of WO2006137910A3 publication Critical patent/WO2006137910A3/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21D—NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
    • G21D7/00—Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions
    • G21D7/04—Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions using thermoelectric elements or thermoionic converters
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to radiant energy, and more particularly to conversion of emissions from a radioactive source into electromagnetic energy such as electric current, RF energy, or coherent light (laser) energy.
  • the alpha-emitting nucleus is the most compact energy source available, with a potential power density greater than 10 watts/g and many years of operating lifetime.
  • Alpha emitters with high specific energy and short stopping range facilitate the development of a miniature nuclear battery with power ranging from nanowatts to milliwatts or higher in a small cell volume of 1 .0 cm 3 .
  • a design using carefully selected chosen alpha emitting sources and cell wall materials has demonstrated that a safe, compact, long-lived nuclear battery is feasible using alpha emitters.
  • Favorable scaling with small sizes and direct conversion of alpha energy into coherent radiation makes it possible to obtain efficiencies greater than that in thermal conversion.
  • Beta- emitting nuclei such as Ni63 ⁇ also be used in this concept, although JP a emitters in general don mot-em it th ⁇ -s am ⁇ power densities. Additionally, a proton + Br-1 1 fusion reaction (which results in emission of 3 alphas) also could be used for the production of free electrons.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of an electric power source according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing structure of a nuclear battery according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGs. 3a and 3b show a RIMS cell and RIMS cell array in accordance with another embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of an optical energy source according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a graph of ion current as a function of gas pressure for an energy cell such as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b;
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one mode of operation of an electric power source according to the invention.
  • FIGs. 7a and 7b are diagrams illustrating possible device configurations of power sources in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of an efficiency increasing resonant circuit coupled to a power source of the invention, according to yet another embodiment.
  • a new electromagnetic energy source concept has been developed based on providing an alpha or beta emitting isotope contained in a high- pressure gas cell.
  • the energy source may provide energy in the form of electric current, light, or other irradiative energy waveform, such as, for example, RF energy.
  • Alpha emitters have the advantage of having very high specific energy (Le ⁇ , high energy per particle and per unit volume or mass). Furthermore alphas can be stopped within short distances in gases, thereby maintaining a high safety standard by preventing escape of alpha particles out of the cell.
  • Our studies to date have resulted in reference designs of modular high pressure gas cells and special compositions that will allow the capture of the high energy content of alphas and betas from nuclear decays within micro- dimensions.
  • the present invention is not limited to such micro- dimensions, but contemplates scaling up to dimensions capable of producing power on the order of a conventional regional power plant, and further contemplates scaling down to dimensions supporting powering of nanotechnology applications.
  • the concepts of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to a nuclear battery that directly converts alpha/beta emissions into electrical power for purposes of illustration and explanation only.
  • the inventive concepts however are not limited to a nuclear battery, but as stated above extend to generation of a wide range of electromagnetic energy from the optical to the x-ray range.
  • FIG. 12 The basic operation of the battery uses two spaced apart dissimilar metal electrodes as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the electrodes are placed within a hermetically sealed cell as shown in Fig. 3(a).
  • a high-pressure gas is trapped within the cell and is ionized by the alpha emitter, which is suspended in the cell gas.
  • the dissimilar metals have different work functions, with one of the electrodes having a relatively low work function, and the other electrode having a relatively high work function, thus generating an electromotive force (EMF) between the metals.
  • EMF electromotive force
  • isotopes that can be produced readily using proven isotope separator and activator technologies.
  • Example isotopes that can be used include Po-210, Po-208, Pu-238, U-235, Am-241 and Gd- 148.
  • the alpha-cell battery is extremely safe. The combination of the cell gas and cell wall will stop and block all direct alpha radiation from escaping the cell. If the radioisotope is correctly chosen, there is negligible direct neutron, beta, and gamma radiation.
  • the cell gas mixture is chosen such that none of the gases will emit significant secondary radiation, or transmutate, when bombarded with 5-6 MeV alpha particles, and thus secondary radiation also can be made negligible. Gases such as Kr, Xe, Ne, He, Ar, and many others are acceptable. Because alpha particles give inmost (or all) of their energy before strik ⁇ the cell wall, the ⁇ hoice ofs waH materialsitis-less critical, and impurities in the wall will not emit significant radiation. For batteries with longer lives, it would be more practical to use isotopes with less specific activity but longer half-life than Po-210.
  • Burst mode for high density efficient energy storage can be provided via the use of a super-capacitor. During normal operation, energy is stored in a high efficiency super-capacitor. When a burst mode is required, the stored energy is discharged from the capacitor and used. The system is compact and efficient. The desired length of the burst mode will determine the exact size of the super-capacitor required.
  • Fig. 8 shows the use of a resonant LC circuit to increase the efficiency of electron extraction from the plasma source.
  • an internal plasma charge resonance that is a function of plasma density.
  • an external resonant circuit to the cell, such as the LC resonant LC circuit shown in Fig. 8
  • the natural resonance of the plasma source can be exploited by matching the internal resonant frequency of the plasma charge in the cell with the external resonant circuit, thereby increasing the amount of current extracted from the cell.
  • the switch connecting the plasma cell to the LC circuit would be closed during one half of the current cycle, such that charges build-up in the capacitor C in a single direction.
  • current can be made to flow into the capacitor C during the entire cycle, by coupling a second switched plasma cell to the circuit, having opposite the second pJasrna CeIj 1 WOVkI hav ⁇ i its iJow .
  • work function electrode and high work function electrode couple to the capacitor in the opposite manner than the plasma cell as shown in Fig. 8.
  • This concept also is important when a high power unit is desired in the KW or MW range.
  • the frequency of the power output is adjustable by the values of capacitor and inductor. For example, for high power supply applications the output is desirably in the range of 60 Hz. In an RFID application, output frequencies in the UHF range or microwave range would be desired.
  • a simple battery design would have a battery shell within an 1 1 .6 mm diameter x 5.4 mm height button cell unit that has the same external dimensions as the commercial 357A button cell watch battery, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the device has a circular base area of 1 .0 cm 2 and a volume of 0.5 cm 3 .
  • the electromotive force of the battery is derived from contact voltage of electrodes with dissimilar work functions.
  • the gas mixture used, the required gas pressure, and the plasma parameters can be selected using available data, computer code simulation, and experimental tests, which is within the skill level of those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be further discussed.
  • micro-scale batteries for MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) applications can be produced in accordance with the invention.
  • These alpha batteries can provide about 1.0 mW of electric power with an operational life of one year (these batteries generally require a radioisotope with high specific activity, such as Po-210).
  • the output power ⁇ such a battery can be extended to the 1 i ⁇ hW range by con sjpuctjngaa- parallel Qpse ⁇ aU ⁇ jay of this miniature module.
  • the overall array dimension of the 10 button cell array can be 1 1 .6 mm D (diameter) x 54 mm H (height).
  • the power levels and the physical dimensions are compatible with DARPA Advanced Technology Office (ATO) specified macro-scale systems.
  • ATO DARPA Advanced Technology Office
  • the device also could be used to trickle and recharge existing chemical batteries.
  • the alpha battery may work more efficiently in smaller sizes.
  • the dimension of the plasma cell can be reduced to 200-500 microns by compressing the gas mixture to about 100 atm.
  • RIMS Radioactive Isotope Micro-Supply
  • An example of a spherical plasma cell enclosed by a glass sphere is shown in Fig. 3(a), where the electrodes are encapsulated with hermetic glass-to-metal seals.
  • Arrays of the RIMS cells can be made in parallel to increase the current capability as needed, as shown in Fig. 3(b). Similarly, parallel arrays can be staged-up to generate the desired voltage according to demand.
  • a RIMS array also can be combined with a rechargeable micro battery or a super-capacitor as energy storage and a MEMS thermal converter for recapturing of thermal energy loss.
  • This integrated alpha-based energy source will be capable of delivering from 1 to 10 mW of continuous power with 40 mW bursts for more than one year, in sizes less than 1 cm 3 .
  • the power conversion efficiency can be further improved by capturing optical and RF radiation from the plasma. Excess energy in the plasma is re-radiated to the surrounding surface in the form of light waves, which can be used as a laser source, and also high frequency microwaves. Interaction of such radiation with the material surface can generate cold secondary electrons if the surface material is selected to provide high SEE (Secondary Electron Emission) yields. This method is very attractive for adding electron current to the battery, thereby increasing the overall power conversion efficiency.
  • SEE Secondary Electron Emission
  • Microwave energy can be captured using microwave reflecting mirrors or electrodes, as shown in Fig. 4.
  • Another method of capturing the excitation energy of alphas on the surrounding high-pressure gas is to select a mixture of gas such that metastable states can be excited.
  • the electrodes serve as metallic mirrors to reflect optical radiation, a coherent light beam can be generated (also shown in Fig. 4). If one mirror has a lower reflectivity than the other mirror, then a coherent beam can emerge from the cell and be used either as a signal source or for direct energy conversion through an external semiconductor device.
  • a ponderomotive force can be created by the preferential flow of laser or EM energy towards one direction. This direction is determined by the differential reflectivity of the two ends.
  • the laser energy is created by the pumping of energy levels within the gas cells by either alphas or betas which are emitted by nuclei. Alphas are the internal supplies of excited prides. With alphas, no external battery i ⁇ P needed because it becomes ⁇ &. selfraener-ated power supply. Consequently, a completely self-contained laser source can be provided according to the invention.
  • a Large-Scale Isotope (LSI) battery can be combined with a rechargeable micro-battery or a super capacitor as an energy storage and thermal management unit for recapturing of thermal energy loss.
  • the new integrated alpha-based energy source will be capable of delivering 10 mW of continuous power with 40 mW bursts for more than one year.
  • the gas pressure should be increased, such as by compressing the gas, so that the stopping range of the alpha particles in the compressed gas is about equal to the shortest cell dimension.
  • the effect of matching the cell size to the stopping range is demonstrated in Figure 5.
  • the thickness of the emitter material in the battery must be kept very small.
  • the energy loss of an alpha particle in a layer of Po is 207 keV per micron and the range is only 1 7.2 microns.
  • the material layer should be limited to one micron or less as a possible design requirement. This will keep the direct energy loss below 0.2 MeV.
  • the maximum utilization is about 50%, with the other 50% having been absorbed by the suspenfPr material (i.e. Cu).
  • the surf ⁇ area availabl Fe- fo Iu P r, I c ⁇ oa 'tiI'n 3g , IL t-hI e I emi electt11t 'eUrP ⁇ IIm I' lal te 11»rial becomes a limiting 3 parameter for the battery emitter material as well as for the battery power performance.
  • the surface of at least one of the electrodes is provided with "nanotips.”
  • the nanotips provide multiple benefits. First, as the alpha or beta emissions occur in all directions, striking of the electrode surfaces by the alphas and/or betas will cause the electrode surfaces to be heated.
  • the nanotips have the effect of increasing the surface area of the electrode. As such, the voltage potential between the electrodes may be increased by the thermoelectric (also known as Peltier) effect as the nanotip electrode will be heated to a higher temperature than the non-nanotip electrode.
  • isotope material may be applied directly to the nanotip surface, or preferably may be embedded within the nanotip structure itself.
  • the nanotips are located on the high work function electrode, as shown in Fig. 6; however the nanotips may be provided on the low function electrode with similar effect.
  • the thermionic emission may be sufficient to generate current without the need for plasma ionization.
  • the geometry of the nanotips ensures that only the emission points at the ends of the nanotips are heated in a localized manner, with thermal insulation being provided between the tips and the main electrode plate. Such localized heating results in further electron ejection caused by thermionic emission. Charge separation and plasm ⁇ &urface interaction processes
  • the dimensions of the alpha battery cell can be reduced to the 100- micron scale by using currently available high-pressure compression technology. Because the ion velocity is the product of ion mobility and the electric field, this quantity is approximately equal to a constant as the dimension L is reduced, while the gas pressure is increased proportional to 1 /L. Thus the time required for moving the charge across the plasma cell can be shorter in smaller cells (the smaller the cell, the higher the current). As shown in Figs. 7a and 7b, suitable cells can be manufactured from a machinable ceramic material to have very small dimensions.
  • the alpha emitter is chosen such that it has minimal gamma emission and no neutron emission. Since the alpha interacts primarily with the carefully chosen background gas, secondary radiation and damage to the battery structure are both negligible.
  • Burst mode operation is provided by storing energy in a super-capacitor, which provides extremely efficient and compact energy storage. The size of the super-capacitor can be chosen to provide the length of burst required. Waste heat is recycled via thermal management to increase the overall efficiency and prevent heat build-up.
  • a grid of very fine wires or electroplating will aid in fabrication of extremely thin alpha/beta emitter-suspenders to avoid self-absorption.
  • a shorter range of alphas leads to a smaller spacing between electrodes, which in turn leads to a favorable internal electric field inside the battery.
  • Alpha emitters such as Po-210, Po-208 and Gd-148 are preferred, although the invention contemplates the use of all alpha and beta emitters, as well as combinations of alpha and beta emitters, and additionally contemplates the use of fusion reactions such as proton + boron (1 1 ) (p+Br-1 1 ).
  • the high- pressure background gas renders most source materials safe and efficient.
  • the alpha emitters produce negligible neutron and gamma emission in primary emission and secondary interactions with surrounding gas and walls through appropriate choice of such materials.
  • the materials chosen for electrodes comply with neutron- and gamma- avoiding safety requirements, nuclear batteries containing these isotopes can be designed with combined neutron and gamma dose rate well below the generally accepted safety dosage.
  • very fine Ag or Pt wires ⁇ 1 0 microns
  • a high transparency is maintained in this suspender of fine wires such that electric current and very high frequency electromagnetic waves can pass through.
  • a complex gas mixture, containing non-monatomic gases such as CO2, N_, etc., in the cell can increase the efficiency of the cell by lowering the ionization energy of the gas and thus capturing more energy from the radioactive decay.
  • a complex gas mixture containing multiple types of gasses can be used to increase the cell efficiency since different gasses are better at capturing energy from alpha particles. Enhancement of current gene ⁇ ed in the alpha cell by allowing alpha pa
  • the coherent radiation can be obtained through multiple reflections between mirrors.
  • the gain is high because the density of states per unit length is high.
  • Conventional lasers cannot use such high-pressure gas because the excitation is by means of electrical discharges.
  • Alphas and betas decaying from nuclei have naturally high energy and therefore can excite gases at very high pressures.
  • Alpha and beta sources generate a continuous current which can be used to charge a capacitor, thus building up a reservoir of charges.
  • This capacitor can be used for burst mode operation to generate high pulse currents and high pulse powers.
  • This capacitor C in combination with an inductor L can be controlled to discharge in certain pulse codes with an electromagnetic frequency determined by L and C, thus giving rise to a unique pulse-code identification of the power source.
  • an oscillating source is generally preferred.
  • an electromagnetic energy source concept has been developed based on alpha emitters contained in a high-pressure gas cell.
  • Alpha emitters have the advantage of having very high specific energy (high energy per emitted particle). Furthermore alphas can be stopped within short distances in gases, thereby maintaining a high safety standard.
  • the basic operation of the battery uses two dissimilar metals joined by a hermetic seal. The dissimilar metals have different work fusions, thus generating an electromotive ⁇ pte (EMF) betwei&rii-the' metalSi When •an.-alpha ⁇ article travels through the high density gas, it leaves a trail of ionized particles, creating plasmas.
  • EMF electromotive ⁇ pte
  • alpha particles primarily interact only with the high- pressure gas to produce a plasma which is self-healing.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Battery Electrode And Active Subsutance (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Hybrid Cells (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une source d'énergie électromagnétique qui est fondée sur la fourniture d'un isotope émettant des particules alpha ou bêta contenu dans une cellule gazeuse haute pression. Ladite source d'énergie peut produire de l'énergie sous la forme de courant électrique, de lumière, ou d'autre forme d'onde d'énergie rayonnante, telle que, notamment, l'énergie RF. Des électrodes de différentes fonctions de travail dans la cellule produisent une force électromotrice qui entraîne le flux de courant.
PCT/US2005/036822 2004-10-14 2005-10-14 Conversion directe d'emissions nucleaires alpha/beta en energie electromagnetique WO2006137910A2 (fr)

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US11/734,919 US20080001497A1 (en) 2004-10-14 2007-04-13 Direct conversion of alpha/beta nuclear emissions into electromagnetic energy

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US52256704P 2004-10-14 2004-10-14
US60/522,567 2004-10-14
US70228405P 2005-07-26 2005-07-26
US60/702,284 2005-07-26

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4414671A (en) * 1981-10-05 1983-11-08 Miami University Collision laser
USH407H (en) * 1985-08-26 1988-01-05 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Electricity and short wavelength radiation generator
US4835433A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-05-30 Nucell, Inc. Apparatus for direct conversion of radioactive decay energy to electrical energy

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4414671A (en) * 1981-10-05 1983-11-08 Miami University Collision laser
USH407H (en) * 1985-08-26 1988-01-05 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Electricity and short wavelength radiation generator
US4835433A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-05-30 Nucell, Inc. Apparatus for direct conversion of radioactive decay energy to electrical energy

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