Standing Bear
Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:58:57 -0700
On Friday 21 March 2008 09:09, Jed Rothwell wrote: > This is conventional technology as far as I can tell, but interesting: > > http://rfdesign.com/military_defense_electronics/ nuclear-accelerated_beta_radiation/ > > "Nuclear-accelerated generator harvests beta radiation > > Oct 1, 2007 12:00 PM > > David Weber, owner and founder of Executive Engineering, is > developing a technology, the nuclear accelerated generator (NAG), > which has been considered for powering miniature autonomous security > devices for an undisclosed application. The main breakthrough > represented by the technology is the direct conversion of nuclear > energy into low-power electrical energy. This enables the technology > to extract useful power from extremely small quantities of obtainable > radioactive isotopes, including those in regular production by the > U.S. Department of Energy. > > In general, NAG technology is intended for use with isotopes that > emit beta-minus radiation (electrons), which is crucial for the > process by which the technology converts nuclear energy into > electricity. Isotopes that are theoretically compatible with the > technology include strontium-90 (Sr-90), nickle-63 (Ni-63), and > promethium-147 (Pm-147). Among these materials, the latter is the > most desirable. One reason for this, Weber stated, is that it decays > into a stable element (inert promethium) within 30 years. . . ." > > the attached article stated that this work was going throught the patent process at present, and it was hoped that the patent would be granted. Seeing as how Wal-Mart can patent a lazy susan used to hold stinkin grocery bags at a rotten checkout counter, a so called business method patent, these folks with something actually decent to patent should not have too much problem in a fair world. Standing Bear