- #1
canadmonster
- 17
- 0
can strontium be used to make a super battery? Or a strontium generator?
Can strontium be used to make a super battery?
- Thread starter canadmonster
- Start date
-
- Tags
- Battery
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the potential use of strontium in the development of super batteries or strontium generators, exploring both theoretical and practical applications of strontium, particularly in relation to its radioactive properties and energy generation mechanisms.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants inquire whether strontium can be utilized to create super batteries or generators, referencing existing technologies like radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs).
- One participant mentions that RTGs have been in use for a long time, utilizing heat from radioactive decay to generate electricity, and suggests that strontium-90 (Sr90) could be a candidate due to its radioactivity.
- Another participant discusses ongoing research at Los Alamos into converting radiation directly into electricity using carbon nanotubes, indicating potential advancements in the field.
- Concerns are raised about the feasibility of using radioactive waste from nuclear reactors for energy generation, with some participants discussing the challenges of reprocessing and the nature of nuclear waste.
- Humor is interjected regarding the presence of Sr90 in the bones of individuals born in the 1950s due to atmospheric testing, with playful references to becoming a "copper-top" from exposure.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a mix of curiosity and skepticism regarding the use of strontium in energy generation, with no clear consensus on its viability or the implications of using radioactive materials. Multiple competing views on the practicality and safety of such technologies remain evident.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes references to various radioactive elements and their applications, highlighting the complexity of energy generation from radioactive materials and the ongoing research into waste utilization. Limitations in understanding the mechanisms of particle movement in these contexts are also noted.
- #2
rbj
- 2,222
- 11
take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium . evidently the answer is yes, and it's been done.
someone who knows something about the atomic decay can maybe tell us about the mechanism. i don't know how to make it so that + charged particles go one way and the - charged particles go another.
someone who knows something about the atomic decay can maybe tell us about the mechanism. i don't know how to make it so that + charged particles go one way and the - charged particles go another.
Last edited by a moderator:
- #3
waht
- 1,499
- 4
RTG have been around for long time now. The heat from the radioactive decay is harnessed by a thermocouple and converted into electricity.
Various radioactive elements can be employed with different half-lives for different applications.
Sr90 is pretty radioactive so might be used.
Also, it looks like scientists at Los Alamos are coming with a way to directly convert radiation into elecrity using carbon nano-tubes. Sounds very promising.
http://technology.newscientist.com/...urns-radiation-directly-into-electricity.html
Various radioactive elements can be employed with different half-lives for different applications.
Sr90 is pretty radioactive so might be used.
Also, it looks like scientists at Los Alamos are coming with a way to directly convert radiation into elecrity using carbon nano-tubes. Sounds very promising.
http://technology.newscientist.com/...urns-radiation-directly-into-electricity.html
- #4
zeitghost
- 156
- 0
The bones of those of us lucky(?) enough to have been born in the 1950s have a generous helping of Sr90 from all those lovely atmospheric tests...
- #5
deakie
- 61
- 0
This is way overdue...the understanding and technology is in place to get on with this.
However, in the current climate, this will be a no-no...
We worked out one generator, theoretically, at work that would give us 640watts roughly for every terabequerel of amercium activity.
Am-241 has a halflife of 432 years, so buying such a generator is for life...
Big oil rules...
However, in the current climate, this will be a no-no...
We worked out one generator, theoretically, at work that would give us 640watts roughly for every terabequerel of amercium activity.
Am-241 has a halflife of 432 years, so buying such a generator is for life...
Big oil rules...
- #6
canadmonster
- 17
- 0
so with all the radioactive waste from nuclear reactors can be used to power another power plant
- #7
deakie
- 61
- 0
Thats why they have re-processing...to reuse the waste...
research is continuing into how they can further utilise waste for generation...problem is, most waste are products that do not give off the right stuff...
they are hoping to find ways that will allow them to effectively speed up the transmutation or reduce the half-life of these products to make them have further life, rather than get stuck in some ground facility somewhere...
i'm wishing them all the success as without a doubt, its a nuclear future...
research is continuing into how they can further utilise waste for generation...problem is, most waste are products that do not give off the right stuff...
they are hoping to find ways that will allow them to effectively speed up the transmutation or reduce the half-life of these products to make them have further life, rather than get stuck in some ground facility somewhere...
i'm wishing them all the success as without a doubt, its a nuclear future...
- #8
turbo
Gold Member
- 3,154
- 57
Holy cow! Do I have enough to become a copper-top?zeitghost said:
- #9
zeitghost
- 156
- 0
turbo-1 said:Holy cow! Do I have enough to become a copper-top?
Depends where you were with regards to the fallout...
Similar threads
- · Replies 13 ·
- · Replies 12 ·
- · Replies 29 ·
- · Replies 11 ·
- · Replies 12 ·
- · Replies 5 ·
- · Replies 21 ·