Alpha-Decay Thermoelectric Power Source With Boron-Carbon Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy supply systems, including large-scale infrastructure facilities and modular power generation units, face vulnerabilities such as disruption from natural disasters and global warming concerns, and existing distributed power generation systems rely on fuel combustion, which is inefficient and environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A power source device utilizing radioactive energy from alpha decay, employing a connected structure of metals with different carriers (boron and carbon) to generate a Seebeck effect, converting thermal energy into electrical energy through temperature differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If large-scale infrastructure facilities are used for power generation, then power supply capacity is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to natural disasters and terrorism
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the power generation system into multiple independent small-scale modular units, each capable of autonomous operation. These modules can be distributed across different locations, ensuring that failure of one module does not affect others, thus maintaining system reliability while providing sufficient total power capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each modular unit is designed to be self-contained with its own radioactive energy source and thermoelectric conversion system, requiring no external fuel supply or complex infrastructure. This self-sufficiency enhances reliability by eliminating dependencies on external systems that could be disrupted by natural disasters or terrorism.
2Reliability
If modular power generation units using fuel combustion are used, then system reliability is improved, but environmental harm increases due to global warming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical combustion system with a radioactive decay-based thermoelectric conversion system. Instead of burning fuel to generate heat, the system utilizes the natural radioactive decay of isotopes to produce heat, which is then converted to electricity through the Seebeck effect in thermoelectric materials, eliminating combustion-related emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental energy source parameter from chemical energy (fuel combustion) to nuclear energy (radioactive decay). This parameter change eliminates the need for oxygen and produces no combustion byproducts, thereby resolving the environmental harm issue while maintaining the modular reliable structure.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If natural energy sources are used for power generation, then environmental friendliness is improved, but power supply capacity deteriorates due to insufficient generation amount
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal power generation module that can be deployed in various settings and scaled to meet different power needs. By standardizing the modular design, the system can be replicated and connected in parallel or series configurations, enabling it to provide both small-scale and large-scale power supply capacities while maintaining environmental friendliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs advanced thermoelectric composite materials with high figure of merit (ZT values) to significantly improve the conversion efficiency from thermal energy to electrical energy. This enhanced efficiency allows the system to generate sufficient power capacity from the heat produced by radioactive decay, overcoming the previous limitation of insufficient power output from natural energy sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a stable, efficient, and environmentally friendly energy supply that is not dependent on large-scale facilities or fuel combustion, enabling small-scale, resilient power generation devices.
Implementation Method 1
the one-end side bonding part in which uranium (U) and thorium (Th) are supported on a carrier made of boron (B) is formed so that it is generated heat by α-decay of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) to raise the temperature to a first temperature
Implementation Method 2
the other end side bonding part in which uranium (U) and thorium (Th) are supported on a carrier made of carbon (C) is formed so that it is generated heat by α-decay of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) to raise the temperature to a second temperature which is different from the first temperature
Implementation Method 3
each one of ends of a first metal and a second metal each comprising a structure having one-end and the other end and comprising different kinds suitable for generating Seebeck effect is connected in a conductive state
Data Source
AI summary
Voltage power source device having a connected structure in which each one of ends of a first metal and a second metal that generate the Seebeck effect are connected by a one-end side bonding part in which uranium and thorium are supported on a carrier made of boron, and the other ends are connected by an other bonding part in which uranium and thorium are supported on a carrier made of carbon. The one-end side bonding part is raised to a first temperature through α-decay of uranium (U) and thorium (Th), and the other bonding part is raised to a second temperature that is different from the first temperature through α-decay of uranium (U) and thorium (Th), whereby a current is generated by the Seebeck effect based on the relative temperature difference between the two bonding parts. Voltage power source device and power generation method enable next-generation type energy supply.