Radiation Hard Battery Harvesting RTG Waste Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radioisotope thermopower generators (RTGs) face challenges in maintaining power output over time due to radioactive decay, requiring large shielding to protect electronics and energy storage components, which increases system mass, and traditional heating methods add additional power draw and mass.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a radiation hard battery with a RTG to harvest waste heat and electrical energy, where the battery serves as both an energy storage unit and radiation shielding, using thermoelectric materials to convert heat into electricity and maintain operational temperature, reducing the need for separate shielding and heating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy shielding is used to protect electronics and energy storage components from radiation, then reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy storage function and radiation shielding function into a single integrated battery assembly. The battery case and structure serve dual purposes: storing electrical energy while simultaneously providing radiation shielding protection to electronics and other components. This eliminates the need for separate shielding materials, significantly reducing system mass while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: electrical energy storage, radiation shielding, and thermal management. By making the battery structure multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall system weight while improving reliability through comprehensive protection.
2Temperature
If traditional heaters are installed on batteries to prevent freezing, then temperature control is improved, but power consumption increases and system mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the RTG, which would otherwise be a harmful thermal overload, into a beneficial heating source for the battery. By integrating the battery thermally with the RTG, the waste heat is captured and used to maintain battery temperature, eliminating the need for separate heaters and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system becomes self-heating through its thermal integration with the RTG. The waste heat from the RTG automatically maintains the battery at operational temperatures without requiring external control systems or additional power input. This self-service approach eliminates the need for traditional heating systems.
3Power
If the RTG is sized for maximum potential power need, then power availability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the battery to store excess electrical energy generated during periods when power demand is low. This preliminary energy storage allows the RTG to be sized for average power needs rather than peak demands, reducing RTG mass. The battery then discharges stored energy during peak demand periods, ensuring power availability without requiring an oversized RTG.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by introducing energy storage capability through the battery. This allows the system to decouple the RTG sizing from peak power requirements, enabling the RTG to operate at more efficient, lower power levels while the battery handles peak demands, thereby reducing overall system mass.
4Reliability
If electronics are placed far away from the RTG to reduce radiation exposure, then reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electronics housing with the battery structure, creating an integrated assembly where the battery case provides radiation shielding for the electronics. This integration allows electronics to be positioned close to the RTG for compact system layout without compromising radiation protection, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 configuration allows for continuous energy harvesting and reduced system mass, enabling peak power applications over longer intervals and maintaining operational temperature without additional heating, thus extending the lifespan of RTG-powered systems.
Implementation Method 1
The battery is configured to harvest waste heat from the heat source, warming the battery
Implementation Method 2
using thermoelectric materials to convert heat into electricity
Implementation Method 3
heat generated from the radioisotope power source
Data Source
AI summary
Describe herein is an energy storage system that includes a battery and a heat source. The battery harvests waste heat from the heat source to keep itself warm while storing electrical energy generated from a heat to energy transforming source. If the heat source is radioactive (e.g. radioisotope decay) a radiation hard battery is intimately connected to a waste heat source. The radiation hard battery harvests waste heat from the heat source to warm itself and to shield the radiation.