US3250925A - Generation of electricity by radioactive wastes - Google Patents

Generation of electricity by radioactive wastes Download PDF

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Publication number
US3250925A
US3250925A US123523A US12352361A US3250925A US 3250925 A US3250925 A US 3250925A US 123523 A US123523 A US 123523A US 12352361 A US12352361 A US 12352361A US 3250925 A US3250925 A US 3250925A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
electrode
electric current
substances
radioactive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US123523A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gumucio Ricardo Salcedo
Bockris John O'm
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Yardney International Corp
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Yardney International Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yardney International Corp filed Critical Yardney International Corp
Priority to US123523A priority Critical patent/US3250925A/en
Priority to DEY274U priority patent/DE1910615U/de
Priority to CH828362A priority patent/CH415883A/de
Priority to GB26860/62A priority patent/GB1010479A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3250925A publication Critical patent/US3250925A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K44/00—Machines in which the dynamo-electric interaction between a plasma or flow of conductive liquid or of fluid-borne conductive or magnetic particles and a coil system or magnetic field converts energy of mass flow into electrical energy or vice versa
    • H02K44/08—Magnetohydrodynamic [MHD] generators
    • H02K44/085—Magnetohydrodynamic [MHD] generators with conducting liquids
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21H—OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES; APPLICATIONS OF RADIATION FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; UTILISING COSMIC RADIATION
    • G21H1/00—Arrangements for obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources, e.g. from radioactive isotopes, nuclear or atomic batteries

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method for the utilization of the radiant energy of radioactive waste in producing electric current.
  • radioactive waste can be used to establish an E.M.F. between two electrodes using flowing river water as electrolyte.
  • the radioactive waste is employed to establish a condition wherein the radiation level at one electrode is greater than the radiation level at the other electrodes as a consequence of which an E.M.F (electromotive force or potential) is produced which generates an electric current.
  • the river water serves both to convey the radioactive waste from the source of its production and as electrolyte for the system.
  • FIG. 1 is a digrammatic representation of one modification of this invention wherein the radioactive material is contained in waste water flowing from a reactor or the like;
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of another modification of this invention wherein the radioactive material is contained in a perforated container which serves as one of the electrodes.
  • elements 2 and 4 are a pair of electrodes which are closely juxtaposed in mutually parallel relationship.
  • the materials from which the electrodes are made may be identical and the difference in potential developed may be due solely to the difference in the radiation level at the respective electrodes.
  • porous-carbon electrodes may be used in such a system.
  • two disimilar metals between which an E.M.F. would be developed For instance, a couple comprising iron and carbon or nickel and carbon may be employed.
  • Electrode 4 (FIG. 1) is provided with a radioactivity insulating or shielding layer 6, which serves to absorb the radioactivity contained in the water flowing between the electrodes. It is also provided with a baffle 8, which reduces contact of the radioactive material with the surfaces of this electrode remote from electrode 2.
  • shielding material may be used in the construction of element 6 and bafile 8 (e.g, thin lead sheeting).
  • the polarity of the cell shown in FIG. 1 will depend upon the nature of the electrodes and the nature of the radioactive waste. In the usual situation wherein the electrodes may both be of carbon and the radioactive waste material emits a, 13 and 7 radiation, the unshielded electrode is the positive electrode and the shielded electrode is the negative electrode.
  • waste water coming from a nuclear reactor flows between the shielded electrode 4 and unshielded electrode 2.
  • This waste water may be water into which solid radioactive waste has been dumped or Patented May 10, 1966 may be cooling water which has become radioactive as a result of its circulation through the cooling system of a nuclear reactor.
  • the radioactive-waste emission is concentrated at the unshielded electrode 2 as a result of which a difference in potential is developed between electrode 2 and electrode 4.
  • one electrode is formed as a perforated container 12 which temporarily receives the radioactive material to be disposed of.
  • a filling means 14 is disposed above perforated container 12 and serves to convey radioactive waste into said perforated container.
  • Perforated container 12 is disposed in a flowing body of water 16 such as a river which serves both as electrolyte and as means for disseminating the radioactive material.
  • Another electrode 18 is also disposed in the river with limited spacing from the perforated container 12.
  • the materials constituting the electrodes may be made of the same material or may be of a dissimilar materials between which a difference in potential may develop in an electrolyte and which will conduct an electric current.
  • the electrode materials are to be made of the same material, carbon will serve quite adequately.
  • electrode 18 may also become strongly irradiated as a result of the presence of radioactive materials in the river water. This is of no great consequence since the radiation level at the container 12 will be at a higher level than that which may develop at electrode 18.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed elec trodes in a liquid electrolyte containing radioemrsslve substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission and cathodically connecting a first electrode while anodically connecting the second electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed electrodes in a liquid electrolyte containing radioemissive substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission displacing said electrolyte with said substances disposed therein past said electrodes, and cathodically connecting a first electrode while anodically connecting the second electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed electrodes in a body of a liquid electrolyte containing radioemissive substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission, said body having a gradient of radioactive intensity with one of said electrodes being positioned at a region of said body of electrolyte exposed to radio emission of relatively high intensity while the other electrode is positioned at a region exposed to radioemission of relatively low intensity, and cathodically connecting a first electrode while anodically connecting the second electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed electrodes in a body of a liquid electrolyte containing radioemissive substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission, said body having a gradient of radioactive intensity with one of said electrodes being positioned at a region of said body of electrolyte exposed to radioemission of relatively high intensity while the other electrode is positioned at a region exposed to radioemission of relatively low intensity, displacing said electrolyte with said substances disposed therein past said electrodes, and cathodically connecting a first electrode while anodically connecting the second electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed electrodes in a liquid water constituting an electrolyte and containing radioemissive substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission, displacing said water with said substances disposed therein past said electrodes, and cathodically connecting a first electrode while anodically connecting the second electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed electrodes in a body of liquid water constituting an electrolyte and containing radioemissive substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission, said body having a gradient of radioactive intensity with one of said electrodes being positioned at a region of said body of water exposed to radioemission of relatively high intensity while the other electrode is positioned at a region exposed to radioemission of relatively low intensity, displacing said water with said substances disposed therein past said electrodes, and cathodically connecting a first electrode while anodically connecting the second electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • said region of relatively low radioemissive intensity is formed by disposing a shield in the region of said other electrode, said shield absorbing at least part of the emission from said substances.
  • said gradient of radioactive intensity is formed by adding said radioemissive substances to the body of water in the region of said one of said electrodes to form the region of high radioemissive intensity thereat.
  • a method of generating an electric current comprising the steps of immersing a pair of juxtaposed electrodes of a pair of dissimilar substances constituting an electrical couple in a body of liquid water constituting an electrolyte and containing radioemissive substances capable of alpha, beta and gamma emission, said body having a gradient of radioactive intensity with one of said electrodes being positioned at a region of said body of water exposed to radioemission of relatively high intensity While the other electrode is positioned at a region exposed to radioemission of relatively low intensity, displacing said water with said substances disposed therein past said electrodes, and cathodically connecting the relatively electronegative electrode while anodically connecting the relatively electropositive electrode in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances and interception of electrically charged particles produced upon such decay by said electrodes.
  • An apparatus for generating an electric current comprising a pair of juxtaposed electrodes immersed in a body of a liquid electrolyte containing radioemissive substances, and means cathodically connecting one of said electrodes and anodically connecting the other of said electrodes in an external circuit to derive an electric current upon decay of said substances.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Water Treatment By Electricity Or Magnetism (AREA)
  • Electrodes For Compound Or Non-Metal Manufacture (AREA)
US123523A 1961-07-12 1961-07-12 Generation of electricity by radioactive wastes Expired - Lifetime US3250925A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US123523A US3250925A (en) 1961-07-12 1961-07-12 Generation of electricity by radioactive wastes
DEY274U DE1910615U (de) 1961-07-12 1962-06-28 Vorrichtung zur elektrischen stromerzeugung durch verwendung radioaktiver abfallstoffe.
CH828362A CH415883A (de) 1961-07-12 1962-07-09 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur elektrischen Stromerzeugung
GB26860/62A GB1010479A (en) 1961-07-12 1962-07-12 A new and improved method of generating electricity

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US123523A US3250925A (en) 1961-07-12 1961-07-12 Generation of electricity by radioactive wastes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3250925A true US3250925A (en) 1966-05-10

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US123523A Expired - Lifetime US3250925A (en) 1961-07-12 1961-07-12 Generation of electricity by radioactive wastes

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3250925A (de)
CH (1) CH415883A (de)
DE (1) DE1910615U (de)
GB (1) GB1010479A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0068152A3 (de) * 1981-06-05 1985-12-11 Nukem GmbH Behälter zur Langzeitlagerung von radioaktiven Stoffen
US11250967B2 (en) * 2018-06-14 2022-02-15 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Method and apparatus for enhancing the electrical power output of a nuclear reactor power generation system
US11289236B2 (en) 2018-06-14 2022-03-29 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Combination reactor gamma radiation power harvesting reactor power distribution measurement, and support to coolant freezing protection system for liquid metal and molten salt-cooled reactor systems

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1317082A (en) * 1919-09-23 Radioactive device
US2696564A (en) * 1951-06-27 1954-12-07 Philip E Ohmart Radio electric generator
US2774891A (en) * 1954-11-23 1956-12-18 Universal Winding Co Means for collecting and utilizing electrical energy of nuclear transformations
FR1234539A (fr) * 1958-09-04 1960-10-18 Perfectionnements apportés aux réacteurs nucléaires

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1317082A (en) * 1919-09-23 Radioactive device
US2696564A (en) * 1951-06-27 1954-12-07 Philip E Ohmart Radio electric generator
US2774891A (en) * 1954-11-23 1956-12-18 Universal Winding Co Means for collecting and utilizing electrical energy of nuclear transformations
FR1234539A (fr) * 1958-09-04 1960-10-18 Perfectionnements apportés aux réacteurs nucléaires

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0068152A3 (de) * 1981-06-05 1985-12-11 Nukem GmbH Behälter zur Langzeitlagerung von radioaktiven Stoffen
US11250967B2 (en) * 2018-06-14 2022-02-15 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Method and apparatus for enhancing the electrical power output of a nuclear reactor power generation system
US11289236B2 (en) 2018-06-14 2022-03-29 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Combination reactor gamma radiation power harvesting reactor power distribution measurement, and support to coolant freezing protection system for liquid metal and molten salt-cooled reactor systems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1010479A (en) 1965-11-17
DE1910615U (de) 1965-02-25
CH415883A (de) 1966-06-30

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