Radioactive Plasma Water Dissociation for High-Efficiency Power Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating electrical power from radioactive decay, such as those using photovoltaic cells, suffer from inefficiency, particularly at high temperatures, with overall efficiency limited to around 40%. There is a need for improved efficiency and alternative means of power generation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a plasma container sustained by radioactive decay, where water is dissociated into hydrogen and oxygen, with hydrogen being separated and used in a fuel cell to generate electricity, and thermoelectric materials are employed to extract additional power from the high temperatures, using a hydrogen selective membrane and oxygen ion transport membrane for gas separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If photovoltaic cells are used to convert energy from radioactive decay, then electrical power can be generated, but the efficiency is limited to around 40% particularly at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance that absorbs thermal energy from the high-temperature plasma and converts it to chemical energy in the form of hydrogen through dissociation. This mediator enables energy transfer from the plasma to a storable chemical form, bypassing the temperature limitations of direct photovoltaic conversion and achieving higher overall efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If wide-bandgap semiconductors are used in photovoltaic devices, then efficiency improves, but the overall efficiency is still limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the photovoltaic conversion mechanism with a chemical dissociation process. Instead of using semiconductor materials to convert photons to electricity, the system uses plasma-induced dissociation of water molecules to produce hydrogen, which is then converted to electricity through fuel cells or combustion. This substitution eliminates the need for wide-bandgap semiconductors while achieving higher efficiency.
3Duration of action of moving object
If hydrogen is produced and stored for later use, then continuous power supply is improved, but system complexity increases with storage devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using the radioactive decay process itself to drive the continuous production of hydrogen through water dissociation. The radioactive source provides sustained energy input over long periods, enabling periodic or continuous hydrogen generation without requiring large external storage systems, as the production is self-sustaining through the decay process.
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
This approach increases the efficiency of electrical power generation and provides a continuous power source over long periods, with the potential for higher peak powers through hydrogen storage, and additional power from thermoelectric means, achieving efficiencies beyond traditional photovoltaic methods.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma sustained by radioactive decay
Implementation Method 2
The radioactive gas comprises a radioisotope susceptible to decay by beta decay, such as, for example, krypton 85
Implementation Method 3
a plasma sustained by radioactive decay
Implementation Method 4
beta particles, which can in turn ionise other krypton-85 atoms
Implementation Method 5
The separator may comprise a selective transport membrane. The selective transport membrane may comprise a hydrogen selective membrane
Implementation Method 6
a generator operable to generate electricity using the hydrogen as a fuel. The generator may comprise a fuel cell
Implementation Method 7
a thermoelectric power generator comprising a thermoelectric material having a first portion in thermal contact with a surface of the plasma container and a second portion in thermal contact with a heat sink
Implementation Method 8
In one preferred embodiment, the separator comprises a hydrogen selective membrane and an oxygen selective membrane
Data Source
AI summary
An electricity generation apparatus is disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a plasma container for containing a plasma sustained by radioactive decay. The plasma container has an inlet through which, in use of the apparatus, water can be introduced to the plasma container, and an outlet through which, in use of the apparatus, material can be expelled from the container. The exhausted material can include hydrogen and oxygen resulting from the dissociation of water molecules caused by interactions within the plasma. A separator can separate hydrogen from the material exhausted from the plasma container, which separator is coupled to the outlet, and a generator can generate electricity using the hydrogen as a fuel.