Fluorescer compounds, a possible method to eliminate radiation damage problem.
– By Abby Gessner –
Two-Step Photon Intermediate Direct Energy Conversion (PIDEC) method uses the efficient generation of photons from the interaction of particulate radiation with fluorescer compounds as a method that eliminates the radiation damage problem. The photons are then transported to wide band-gap photovoltaic cells where electrical current is generated. PIDEC has a 40% energy conversion efficiency in a single cycle that can be applied to both large power generation systems as well as small scale nuclear batteries based on radioisotopes (Radioisotope Energy Conversion System-RECS).
The direct energy conversion system would be more efficient than the current steam cycle systems and would not use water. The system that the University of Missouri and U.S. Semiconductor Corp are developing is mechanically simple, potentially leading to more compact, more reliable and less expensive systems in the future. Mark Prelas is lead researcher.
Typically, a light-water reactor nuclear power plant offers thermal efficiency around 35%, whereas a modern coal-powered plant with super-critical boiler operates at 44%. New high temperature nuclear reactors may also reach those levels of efficiency.
The most modern gas turbines offer thermal efficiencies in the 40% range, with a recent model obtaining 46% according to reports. These values refer to simple-cycle operation, where turbine exhaust is not used further. Advantage comes from gas turbine exhaust when applied as input to a standard steam turbine in a combined-cycle power plant. This is where new-generation gas turbines can become the driving engine to obtain 60%+ overall thermal efficiency.