KnE Engineering
ISSN: 2518-6841
The latest conference proceedings on all fields of engineering.
Estimation of the Operating Parameters of Miniature Radioisotope Thermoelectric Power Unit Based on the Th-228 Isotope
Published date: Oct 08 2018
Journal Title: KnE Engineering
Issue title: Breakthrough directions of scientific research at MEPhI: Development prospects within the Strategic Academic Units
Pages: 274–280
Authors:
Abstract:
The article considers the construction of a miniature radioisotope power unit based on thermoelectric conversion of thermal energy released during nuclear decay. It is proposed to use thin fluoropolymer films (membranes) as a dielectric heat-insulating material. The results of numerical simulation of a prototype of a miniature radioisotope thermoelectric battery unit based on the thorium-228 isotope in the ANSYS program are presented. The geometry of the system has been optimized. It was established that the temperature of the source can reach about 1033 K, and the efficiency of the considered battery unit can reach 16.8%, which corresponds to modern power supplies of this type.
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