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Direct Energy Conversion Nano-hybrid Fuel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Liviu Popa-Simil*
Affiliation:
lpopas@ieee.org, LAVM LLC., R&D, 3213-C Walnut St., Los Alamos, NM, 87544-2092, United States
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Abstract

Most of the exothermic nuclear reactions transfer the mass defect or binding and surplus energy into kinetic energy of the resulting particles. These particles are traveling through material lattices, interacting by ionization and nuclear collisions. Placing an assembly of conductive-insulating layers in the path of such radiation, the ionization energy is transformed into charge accumulation by polarization. The result is a super-capacitor charged by the moving particles and discharged electrically. Another more promising solution is to use bi-material nanoparticles organized such as to act like a serial connection and add the voltage. A spherical symmetry fission products source coated in several nano-layers is desired for such structures. The system may operate as dry or liquid-immersed battery, removing the fission products from the fissile material. There is a tremendous advantage over the current heat flow based thermal stabilization system allowing a power density up to 1000 times higher.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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