Nuclear Batteries

[onthecuttingedge2005]

The Pu is an extremely poisonous over toxic than radiation.The Cassini spacecraft is powered by 2 nuclear batteries which give about 500 W each.

But yet all Cassini developers survived building it, it has to do with safety factors, if you don't have safety factors then it is hazardous other wise it is totally safe. this is a fact.

the number one rule: Safety first!

Isotope studies are my favorite subjects in Chemistry. I love Nuclear Chemistry.

Jerry

[czimborbryan]

I just found info that the Cassini battery can produce 700 watts for at least 11 years.

I didn't find out the weight to power ratio  or even the dimensions of the RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator) battery.  However, NASA's documentation did state that the plutonium was a small amount... whatever that means.

[onthecuttingedge2005]

Cassini had 3 RTG's with a total of 32.9kg of Plutonium.

[Nali2001]

Or something like this?:

[jadaro2600]

Most thermonuclear junction batteries and their derivatives are step down joule thief circuits..often they have an electromagnetic reed switch instead of a transistor ..they collect voltage, and at a defined rate, the switch clicks on and pulses through a coil - using a small transformer they charge a capacitor and discharge as a normal battery would.

In other words, they would behave as a lead acid, in that they would have a cranking amp rating, then a continuous discharge rating.  One would not be able to differentiate the source electricity from a car battery.

A good example of utilizing the eV's derived from a nuclear source would be to supply a high voltage low current device.  ..this is impractical so long as we're mainly using the reciprocal, higher current lower voltage.  Therefor this conversion takes place.

It would be advisable to fisrt develope a high voltage, low current device before building a high voltage low current battery.

This is a primary reason for avoiding the particular use of radical elements.

Americium and other radioactive elements can be used which produce less volatile radioactive decay with similar effects.

I once though that if every gram of radioactive waste were properly utilized, we would have no use for their storage facilities - the elements would be utilized from cradle to grave, so to speak.

The device pictured above looks as haphazard as it gets!

There's probably enough radioactive waste in America to power America.