vera_k wrote: ↑05 Mar 2025 12:34
Thinking more in terms of installing one or a handful of these in each apartment. Should be sufficient for running an AC, a cooktop and a tank water heater.
Sorry.. this is not viable .. using basic physics.. (Putting my physics professor's hat

)
The nuclear battery described in the patent, despite achieving 9.2 kW (23A at 400V), (
or any other similar device) is not a viable solution for apartment-scale energy needs due to fundamental physics constraints:
Radioactive Material Requirements - The device relies on alpha-emitting isotopes,
which have low power density (VERY low - compared to fission in nuclear reactors - or even simple gas/petrol generator etc). To sustain long-term 9.2 kW output, the required mass of radioisotopes would be so large - making it impractical for apartment use.
Basic math/physics:
A conventional nuclear reactor extracts energy from fission, releasing ~200 MeV per reaction.
Alpha decay releases much less energy per decay (~5 MeV), meaning enormous amounts of material would be needed to sustain multi-kW outputs.
Beside - decay rate .. Alpha-emitting materials do not produce high continuous power—they decay slowly over years or decades. Unlike reactors, which control reaction rates for sustained power, a nuclear battery’s output is limited by natural decay rates.
It will NOT scale- Even if one device could power a single apartment, scaling up for an entire building would require hundreds or thousands of such units, concentrating radioactive material in a way that poses shielding, safety, and regulatory challenges.
While theoretically interesting, this nuclear battery is fundamentally limited by low power density, slow decay rates, and impractical material requirements. It cannot match the high, sustained energy demands of home appliances like AC units, electric cooktops, and water heaters, which require steady multi-kW power for extended periods...
Here is some basics of the material needed (Check out any standard source, how easy or difficult to acquire such materials

to get some idea.. >>
Polonium-210
Decay energy: ~5.4 MeV per alpha particle
Half-life: ~138 days (short-lived, impractical for long-term power)
Power density: ~140 W/g (very high but depletes quickly)
Radium-226
Decay energy: ~4.8 MeV per alpha particle
Half-life: ~1,600 years (long-lasting but lower power density)
Americium-241
Decay energy: ~5.5 MeV per alpha particle
Half-life: ~432 years
(Used in RTGs for low-power applications by USA and India)
Curium-242 or Curium-244
Decay energy: ~6 MeV (²⁴²Cm), ~5.8 MeV (²⁴⁴Cm)
Half-life: ~162 days
Power density: ~120 W/g (²⁴²Cm), ~3 W/g (²⁴⁴Cm)
(Etc..)
--
How Much Material Is Needed?
The power output of the battery is stated as 9.2 kW (9,200 W). Given that:
Polonium-210 ... it would take ~66 grams to generate 9.2 kW. Howeve Po’s short half-life means frequent replacement is required.
Americium-241,,,, ~92 kg for the same output.
Curium-244, ... would require ~3 kg.
Practical Issues
Alpha decay produces heat; a large mass of isotope would require cooling.
Isotopes like Polonium-210 are rare and dangerous. (used in spy novels for poisoning
Handling such materials requires extensive radiation shielding and containment.
...
For continuous high-power applications, the required amount of radioactive material makes this battery
impractical...