Multi-layered radio-isotope for enhanced photoelectron avalanche process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11670432-B2
Application number	US-202217571765-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2022
Priority date	May 30, 2018
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a nuclear thermionic avalanche cell (NTAC) systems and related methods of generating energy comprising a radioisotope core, a plurality of thin-layered radioisotope sources configured to emit high energy beta particles and high energy photons, and a plurality of NTAC layers integrated with the radioisotope core and the radioisotope sources, wherein the plurality of NTAC layers are configured to receive the beta particles and the photons from the radioisotope core and sources, and by the received beta particles and photons, free up electrons in an avalanche process from deep and intra bands of an atom to output a high density avalanche cell thermal energy through a photo-ionic or thermionic process of the freed up electrons.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of generating electrical power, comprising:
emitting beta particles and/or photons from a radioisotope core and a plurality of radioisotope source layers integrated with a nuclear thermionic avalanche cell (NTAC), wherein the radioisotope source layers have a thickness of about 3 mm to about 5 mm to reduce thermal loading due to scattering of the beta particles and/or photons;
receiving the beta particles and/or photons by a plurality of thin emitter layers of the NTAC, wherein the emitter layers are configured to receive the beta particles and/or photons,
outputting avalanche electrons from the emitter layers of the NTAC using the received beta particles and/or photons;
guiding the avalanche electrons to cross over a vacuum gap of the NTAC to a plurality of collectors of the NTAC;
harnessing electrical power from the avalanche electrons at the plurality of collectors of the NTAC via a power circuit; and
generating an electrical current.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beta particles are electrons or positrons.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the photons are x-rays, gamma rays, or visible UV light.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radioisotope core and the radioisotope source layers are Cobalt-60, Sodium-22, or Cesium-137.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thin emitter layers include a nanostructured surface of a high Z material for emission of liberated electrons.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collectors include a nano-structured surface of a low or mid Z material for absorption of emitted electrons from emitters.

7. An energy conversion system, comprising:
a radioisotope core;
a plurality of radioisotope source layers configured to emit beta particles and/or photons,
wherein the radioisotope source layers have a thickness from about 3 mm to about 5 mm,
wherein the radioisotope core and the layered radioisotope sources layers comprise Cobalt-60, Sodium-22, or Cesium-137;

a nuclear thermionic avalanche cell (NTAC) comprising a plurality of NTAC layers integrated with the radioisotope core wrapped around by a thin emitter layer and the radioisotope source layers attached with thin emitter layers on both sides and those emitter layers are configured to receive the beta particles and the photons from radioisotope core and the radioisotope source layers and by the received beta particles and photons free up electrons in an avalanche process from deep and intra bands of an atom of emitter material to generate electric power output through a photo-ionic or thermionic process of the freed up electrons, and thermal energy created by electron scattering is conducted out through the metal structures of NTAC layers such as emitter and collector layers and also radiatively transmitted through the vacuum gaps outwards and captured by a thermoelectric generator;
wherein both sides of each radioisotope source layers are attached with the emitter layer; and all radioisotope source layers attached with the emitter layers on both sides surround the radioisotope core which is also wrapped around by a thin emitter layer;
wherein the NTAC layers comprise a nanostructured surface of a high Z material; and

a thermoelectric generator configured to receive the thermal energy, wherein the radiative thermal energy is conducted axially and radially, and output thermoelectric power; and
wherein the thermoelectric generator surrounds the NTAC layers, the radioisotope core, and the radioisotope source layers.

Assignees

• Nasa

Inventors

• Choi Sang H
• Bushnell Dennis M
• Komar David R
• Hendricks Robert C

Classifications

• G21H3/00

  Arrangements for direct conversion of radiation energy from radioactive sources into forms of energy other than electric energy, e.g. {into} light {or mechanic energy} · CPC title

• G21H1/12

  Cells using conversion of the radiation into light combined with subsequent photoelectric conversion into electric energy · CPC title

• G21G1/12

  by electromagnetic irradiation, e.g. with gamma or X-rays (applications of radiation G21H5/00; irradiation devices G21K5/00) · CPC title

• G21G2001/0094

  Other isotopes not provided for in the groups listed above · CPC title

• G21G2001/0068

  Cesium · CPC title