Solid State Generator Using Radiation Responsive Material for Emergency Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear power stations face challenges in maintaining core cooling and monitoring systems during extended power outages, such as those experienced at Fukushima Dai-ichi, due to the inability to control valve functions and potential radioactivity breaches without a reliable source of electrical power.
Innovation Solution
A solid state electrical generator using a radiation responsive material, like Co-59 and tungsten, within a conductive housing to generate electricity from background radiation, capable of charging batteries to operate emergency equipment, even after reactor shutdown, with an insulator to prevent electron cancellation and a flexible design to fit within reactor cavities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional batteries are used to power emergency equipment during station blackouts, then the equipment can operate for a limited time, but the battery life is insufficient to cover extended blackout periods
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation responsive material is activated during normal reactor operation to generate electricity and charge the batteries in advance. This preliminary charging action ensures that sufficient energy is stored before a potential blackout occurs, extending the operational duration of emergency equipment without requiring larger batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the background radiation from the nuclear facility itself as a free energy source to charge the batteries. The radiation responsive material automatically converts ambient radiation into electrical energy, eliminating the need for external power sources or manual charging operations.
2Volume of moving object
If the housing is made thin to fit within the reactor cavity space, then the device can be installed in the available space, but the radiation responsive material may be insufficient to generate adequate electricity
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation responsive material uses a composite structure combining Co-59 and tungsten in specific proportions and configurations. This composite material maximizes the electrical output per unit volume by optimizing the interaction between the gamma radiator and electron radiator components, enabling adequate power generation within the constrained thin housing.
3Power
If the radiation responsive material is activated immediately, then electricity is generated from the start, but the electrical output is initially insufficient and increases only over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is activated during normal reactor operation when radiation levels are high, allowing the radiation responsive material to accumulate electrical charge in the batteries before a potential blackout. This preliminary charging phase ensures that when the reactor shuts down, the batteries already contain sufficient energy to power emergency equipment immediately.
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
The generator produces sufficient electricity to operate critical systems, increasing output over time and providing steady power to batteries, ensuring continued operation of emergency equipment during station blackouts, with the potential to significantly extend battery life and prevent radioactivity breaches.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation responsive material supported within the electrically conductive housing. The radiation responsive material is responsive to background radiation within a nuclear power generating facility, outside of the nuclear reactor, but within the vicinity of nuclear fuel rods, to generate sufficient electricity
Implementation Method 2
An insulator is situated between the radiation responsive material and the housing. In one embodiment, an electrical insulator seal gasket is supported between a backside of the housing and the gamma radiator and electrically insulates the backside of the housing from a front side of the housing which forms a collector
Data Source
AI summary
A solid state electrical generator that is responsive to a relatively low level radiation field to power emergency equipment in a nuclear powered generating facility. The electricity is generated from materials, that are not initially radioactive, that are able to produce electrical power when placed inside a relatively low neutron and/or gamma radiation field and will essentially breed material to enhance the power produced by the device sufficiently to allow the device to provide sufficient power to the emergency equipment, even though the reactor or other source of neutron and/or gamma radiation has shut down.