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Radioactive Solar Collector

10/23/2014 4:09 PM

Could we augment the output of a solar array by exposing the collectors to radioactive materials at night???

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#1

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 4:28 PM

Ah, no. The spectrum of the light hitting the solar array is critical for conversion to electric current. The energy of the photons emitted from a decaying nucleus is typically a much higher energy level (X-ray and Gamma ray) than what a photo voltaic cell will use to push orbital electrons around.

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#13
In reply to #1

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/24/2014 7:25 AM

Perhaps not directly but indirectly through a hybrid solar/battery design.

http://phys.org/news/2014-09-water-based-nuclear-battery-electrical-energy.html

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#2

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 4:28 PM
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 4:37 PM

If this would work at night, why not use it during the day as well?

That would free up a fair amount of solar energy for other stuff.

Dude! What happened to that thread about silly posts and legal cannabis?

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 4:47 PM

You must have dreamed that....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betavoltaics

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#6
In reply to #4

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 6:05 PM
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#5
In reply to #3

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 5:26 PM

Up in smoke I guess.

No more silliness from Unredundant!

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#7
In reply to #2

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 6:34 PM

Shine a very bright light on the panels.

Your efficiency will be about the same as a model year 2000 fusion reactor.

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#8

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 6:45 PM

This will only work if the radioactive source is glowing brightly and is held close to the solar cells.

And, as DM said why only at night?

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#9

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 6:51 PM

My understanding is that the high energy particles over time cause damage to the solids which absorb them. Absorbing them in liquid apparently has some merit.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/25428/Efficient-Battery-Relies-on-Radiolysis

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 7:10 PM
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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 9:22 PM

You are up to something.
This also could be used underground without taking up roof space and polluting the eyesight.

O what ever . . .

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#19
In reply to #10

Re: Radioactive solar collector

11/01/2014 12:27 PM

Yes, there was a whole entire blog about the Sr90 Beta source being used in this way just about a week ago. They are still in the microwatt phase of development, but yes, the efficency thus far looks great!

Why not store heat during the day (compressed air on gravel), then reverse the compressor banks at night to drive your heat engine?

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#12

Re: Radioactive solar collector

10/23/2014 10:06 PM

Just use the radioactivity to drive a fission reactor. Then use the electricity generated by the reactor to shine lights on the solar arrays at night!

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#14

Re: Radioactive Solar Collector

10/24/2014 11:56 AM

If the source radiates in the wrong spectrum, phosphors could be used to correct. Encapsulating the source in something like glass is probably a good idea anyway...might as well have some phosphors on the interior.

.

Perhaps encapsulating radioactive material in phosphor lined glass could keep some of it from becoming waste.

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#15
In reply to #14

Re: Radioactive Solar Collector

10/24/2014 9:46 PM
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#16

Re: Radioactive Solar Collector

10/26/2014 9:03 PM

Even if you overcame the problems involved, how would you obtain any nuclear materials? And what kind of waste would be generated? And where to put said waste? And what kind of security would be needed to protect the system? I could go on for quite a while. I personally think (IMHO) that we need to find a way to deal with the enormous amount of nuclear waste on hand before coming up with ways to make more.

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#17
In reply to #16

Re: Radioactive Solar Collector

10/27/2014 8:00 AM

"...how would you obtain any nuclear materials?"

The usual sources from the Tor Project. ;-)

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#18
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Re: Radioactive Solar Collector

10/28/2014 12:50 PM

"...I could go on for quite a while. I personally think (IMHO) that we need to find a way to deal with the enormous amount of nuclear waste on hand..."

.

It seems like personally and Humble should either mostly cancel each other out, or be mutually exclusive..... or, perhaps I am insufficiently humble to perceive a way in which one might think that would not be personal.

.

Whether the thoughts are personally humble or impersonally proud, it might be worth considering that radioactive materials that might currently be considered waste, would not warrant such classification if a viable use were found, i.e. enormous amounts on hand isn't typically indicative of a problem obtaining materials.

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