This seminar presentation provides an overview of nuclear batteries. It discusses the need for reliable, long-lasting power sources and how nuclear batteries address this need. The presentation covers the historical development of nuclear batteries, including early experiments in the 1950s. It then explains the two main energy production mechanisms - betavoltaics which uses beta particles and direct charging generators which use alpha particles. Key factors in fuel selection like half-life and cost are also outlined. The presentation concludes by discussing applications of nuclear batteries in areas like space, medicine, and remote sensors and their advantages of long lifespan and high energy density.

1. SEMINAR ON
+ NUCLEAR BATTERY -
Presented By
Rahul V. Lilare
Final year (EEE)
Guided By
Prof. A. S. Dahane
Assistant Professor
Prof. Ram Meghe College Of Engineering & Management,
Badnera-Amravati

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

4. ANSWERS :
 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.

5.  Nuclear batteries have lifespan upto 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Representation of basic beta voltaic conversion
•Electrode A (P-region) has a positive potential while
electrode B (N-region) is negative.

9.  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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17.  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.

18.  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.

19. CONCLUSION
 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.

20. THANK YOU

21. REFERENCES
 Brown Paul: "Resonant Nuclear Battery Supply", Raum
& Zeit, 1(3) (August-September, 1989)
 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