2. “What is a Nuclear Battery”
Radioactive
Isotopes
Electrica
l Energy
HEAT
3. Origin Of Nuclear Batteries
O H.G.J.MOSELEY laid the foundation for
Nuclear Batteries
O Often referred as Radioisotope
Thermoelectric Generator
4. Which adapts the best
O 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. Americium-241(241Am)
3. polonium-210 (210Po)
4. Stronsium-90 (90Sr)
5. Cesium-144 (144Cs)
are found to be best
candiated for Nuclear cell .
6. Types of Converter
O THERMAL CONVERTERS
1.Thermionic Converter
2.Radioisotope thermoelectric generator
3.Thermophotovoltaic cell
O NON THERMAL CONVERTERS
1.Direct Charging
2.Beta voltaic
7. TYPES OF NUCLEAR CELL
OHIGH VOLTAGE
NUCLEAR
CELL
1. Radioisotope
2. Electrode
3. Dielectric
OLOW VOLTAGE
NUCLEAR
CELL
1. Thermopile
2. Ionised Gas
3. Phosphor
Technique
8. About Nuclear Batteries
O These cells have a specific power of 24
watts per kilogram and can operate with
full loading over 10 years of operating
cycle.
O The efficiency is about 25 percentages
10. Principle of Nuclear Batteries
O According to this effect “When a
temperature difference is maintained at
the junctions of two dissimilar metal, a
voltage is developed in an external
circuit.”
V
Metal-A
Metal-B
T1
T2
11. Construction
O The nuclear cell consists of a safety container
in which a radioactive material is kept and
used as fuel.
O The thermocouples are placed on the walls of
the container and their outer ends are
connected to a heat sink.
O During the decay, the radioisotope emits the
heat and it flows across the thermocouple and
reaches the sink.
O The heat energy later converted into electrical
energy based on the thermoelectric principle
13. Applications
• They are used as power source for
spacecraft
• They are used in pacemakers
• They are used in unmanned power
facilities.
• They used as portable batteries in
electronics applications
