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Post by treptoplax on Apr 23, 2018 16:05:46 GMT
Here's a RTG alternative that could have lower mass: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optoelectric_nuclear_batteryThe radiation source is in a gas and we capture the energy with photoelectric cells instead of thermocouples. Large radiators are thus not required, and efficiency is theoretically high. "The battery would consist of an excimer of argon, xenon, or krypton (or a mixture of two or three of them) in a pressure vessel with an internal mirrored surface, finely-ground radioisotope, and an intermittent ultrasonic stirrer, illuminating a photocell with a bandgap tuned for the excimer.[1] When the beta active nuclides (e.g., krypton-85 or argon-39) emit beta particles, they excite their own electrons in the narrow excimer band at a minimum of thermal losses that this radiation is converted in a high band gap photovoltaic layer (e.g. in p-n diamond) very efficiently into electricity. The electric power per weight compared with existing radionuclide batteries can then be increased by a factor 10 to 50 and more. If the pressure-vessel is carbon fiber/epoxy the weight-to-power ratio is said to be comparable to an air-breathing engine with fuel tanks. The advantage of this design is that precision electrode assemblies are not needed, and most beta particles escape the finely-divided bulk material to contribute to the battery's net power."
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Post by Pttg on Apr 25, 2018 18:27:47 GMT
A nice idea. Frankly, it would also make sense to go with simple Lithium-ion batteries charged with solar or else from a mothership's reactor as a standby power supply, but simulating those sufficiently for combat would not be accurate and simulating them accurately would be really intensive... all and all your idea has merit.
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Post by n2maniac on May 11, 2018 5:49:42 GMT
The RTG will still have to radiate waste heat at a temperature dependent on the photocell's durability / efficiency (with efficiency typically falling off at higher temperatuers).
Waste heat for li-ion is at low temperatures and power density is mediocre (~8MW/t). This will still have radiator issues, though they won't have to glow.
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Post by AtomHeartDragon on May 20, 2018 15:32:10 GMT
We need a way to model dissipating small heats loads by conducting them into structure and letting the ship radiate them as it pleases - no radiators necessary.
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