Nuclear voltaic cell

• US 20060034415A1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francis Yu-Hei Tsang, Kwan Sze Kwok, Nathan Newman, Scott Arden Ploger, Tristan Dieter Juergens, Yale Deon Harker
• Original Assignee: Francis Yu-Hei Tsang, Kwan Sze Kwok, Nathan Newman, Scott Arden Ploger, Tristan Dieter Juergens, Yale Deon Harker
• Inventors: Kwok, Kwan Sze, Newman, Nathan, Juergens, Tristan Dieter, Ploger, Scott Arden, Harker, Yale Deon, Tsang, Francis Yu-Hei
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 376/320
• CPC Class Codes: G21H 1/04 Cells using secondary emission induced by alpha radiation, beta radiation, or gamma radiation

Abstract

The invention describes a product and a method for generating electrical power directly from nuclear power. More particularly, the invention describes the use of a liquid semiconductor as a means for efficiently converting nuclear energy, either nuclear fission and/or radiation energy, directly into electrical energy. Direct conversion of nuclear energy to electrical energy is achieved by placing nuclear material in close proximity to a liquid semiconductor. Nuclear energy emitted from the nuclear material, in the form of fission fragments or radiation, enters the liquid semiconductor and creates electron-hole pairs. By using an appropriate electrical circuit an electrical load is applied and electrical energy generated as a result of the creation of the electron-hole pairs.

Claims

1. A method of direct conversion of nuclear energy to electrical energy comprising the steps of:

placing a liquid semiconductor between two metallic contacts, wherein said first metallic contact creates a low resistance or ohmic contact with said liquid conductor and said second metallic contact creates a Schottky contact with said liquid semiconductor;

placing nuclear material in close proximity to said liquid semiconductor; and

creating an electrical circuit between said first metallic contact and said second metallic contact.

2. A method for directly converting nuclear fission energy into electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:

depositing a layer of nuclear fissile material on a substrate;

depositing a metallic contact layer onto said layer of nuclear fissile material;

depositing a second metallic contact layer onto a second substrate;

placing a liquid semiconductor between said first and said second substrates so that said liquid semiconductor is in contact with said first metallic contact layer and said second metallic contact layer;

creating a Schottky contact between said first metallic contact and said liquid semiconductor;

creating an ohmic contact or low resistance contact between said second metallic contact and said liquid semiconductor;

creating an electrical circuit between said Schottky contact and said ohmic contact; and

removing an electrical energy from said electrical circuit, said electrical energy being generated as a consequence of a release of nuclear energy by said fissile material causing a plurality of electron-hole pairs to be created in said liquid semiconductor, wherein said electrical energy is generated as a result of current flow between said Schottky contact and said low resistance or ohmic contact.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

placing said nuclear voltaic cell in contact with a coolant and circulating said coolant in a closed system to remove heat from said nuclear voltaic cell.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

placing said nuclear voltaic cell in a closed system and pumping said liquid semiconductor through said nuclear voltaic cell and around said closed system.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

removing heat from said liquid semiconductor by placing a heat extractor in said closed system and pumping said liquid semiconductor through said heat extractor.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

removing unwanted fission fragments and unwanted neutron activation products from said liquid semiconductor by placing a scrubber in said closed system and pumping said liquid semiconductor through said scrubber.

7. A method for directly converting nuclear fission energy into electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:

placing nuclear fissile material in solution in a liquid semiconductor;

sandwiching said liquid semiconductor containing said fissile material between a first and second metallic contact;

creating a Schottky contact between said first metallic contact and said liquid semiconductor;

creating a low resistance or ohmic contact between said second metallic contact and said liquid semiconductor;

creating an electrical circuit between said Schottky contact and said ohmic contact; and

removing an electrical energy from said electrical circuit, said electrical energy being generated as a consequence of a release of nuclear energy by said fissile material causing a plurality of electron-hole pairs to be created in said liquid semiconductor, wherein said electrical energy is generated as a result of current flow between said Schottky contact and said low resistance or ohmic contact.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

placing said nuclear voltaic cell in contact with a coolant and circulating said coolant in a closed system to remove heat from said nuclear voltaic cell.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

placing said nuclear voltaic cell in a closed system and pumping said liquid semiconductor through said nuclear voltaic cell and around said closed system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

removing heat from said liquid semiconductor by placing a heat extractor in said closed system and pumping said liquid semiconductor through said heat extractor.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

removing unwanted fission fragments and unwanted neutron activation products from said liquid semiconductor by placing a scrubber in said closed system and pumping said liquid semiconductor through said scrubber.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

adding fissile material to said liquid semiconductor to replace fissile material exhausted by fission events.

13. A method for directly converting nuclear fission energy into electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:

arranging a plurality of nuclear voltaic cells in close proximity to each other; and

connecting said plurality of nuclear voltaic cells so that an electrical output of said nuclear voltaic cells is combined.

14. A method for directly converting nuclear fission energy into electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a plurality of nuclear voltaic cells so that an electrical output of each of said plurality of nuclear voltaic cells is combined;

surrounding said plurality of nuclear voltaic cells with a biological shield;

surrounding said biological shield with a housing; and

placing a coolant between said biological shield and said housing.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

removing heat from said plurality of nuclear voltaic cells by pumping said coolant through a heat extractor.