High power beta electron device - Beyond betavoltaics
Abstract
Developing watt level power sources with beta emitting radioisotopes has been limited by the inability to utilize high energy (> 100 KeV) beta emitters at high radioisotope loadings without damaging the energy conversion materials. A new type of beta electron power source is described that removes those restrictions. This approach contains the radioisotope in a beta transparent titanium tube and confines beta electrons emitted through the tube wall to spiral trajectories around the tube with an axial magnetic field. The confined beta electrons dissipate energy though multiple interactions with surrounding excimer precursor gas atoms to efficiently generate photons. Photovoltaic cells convert the photons to electrical power. Since the beta electrons dissipate energy in the excimer precursor gas, the device can be loaded with more than 1013 Bq of radioisotope to generate 100 milliwatt to watt levels of electrical power without damaging the device materials or degrading its performance. Furthermore, the power source can use a variety of beta radioisotopes and scales by stacking the devices.
- Authors:
-
- Ayers Group, Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1414906
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1549047
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0012057
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Applied Radiation and Isotopes
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 131; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0969-8043
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
Citation Formats
Ayers, William M., and Gentile, Charles A. High power beta electron device - Beyond betavoltaics. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.10.050.
Ayers, William M., & Gentile, Charles A. High power beta electron device - Beyond betavoltaics. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.10.050
Ayers, William M., and Gentile, Charles A. Fri .
"High power beta electron device - Beyond betavoltaics". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.10.050. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1414906.
@article{osti_1414906,
title = {High power beta electron device - Beyond betavoltaics},
author = {Ayers, William M. and Gentile, Charles A.},
abstractNote = {Developing watt level power sources with beta emitting radioisotopes has been limited by the inability to utilize high energy (> 100 KeV) beta emitters at high radioisotope loadings without damaging the energy conversion materials. A new type of beta electron power source is described that removes those restrictions. This approach contains the radioisotope in a beta transparent titanium tube and confines beta electrons emitted through the tube wall to spiral trajectories around the tube with an axial magnetic field. The confined beta electrons dissipate energy though multiple interactions with surrounding excimer precursor gas atoms to efficiently generate photons. Photovoltaic cells convert the photons to electrical power. Since the beta electrons dissipate energy in the excimer precursor gas, the device can be loaded with more than 1013 Bq of radioisotope to generate 100 milliwatt to watt levels of electrical power without damaging the device materials or degrading its performance. Furthermore, the power source can use a variety of beta radioisotopes and scales by stacking the devices.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.10.050},
journal = {Applied Radiation and Isotopes},
number = C,
volume = 131,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Fri Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}
Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journalWeb of Science