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Radio-Luminescence
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Fusion | Hot
Fusion
Pebble Bed Reactors
| Thorium Reactors | Uranium
Hydride Reactors
Radio-luminescence
is a phenomena that causes a material to give off light when excited
by a source of radiation. A self-glowing paint was developed in the
early 1900's, made from a Radium salt (radium barium carbonate),
a fluorescent material (zinc sulfide) and a binder (linseed oil).
This material was used for decades to make watch dials glow in the
dark. During World War 2, it was used to make whole instrument panels
glow in aircraft used for night missions.
In
the 1970's, experiments began by painting this material on the newly
developed "photovoltaic cells". With a series of solar
cells wired together and painted with Radium Paint, the solar cells
produced electricity continuously. All experiments along these lines
were successful!
One
simple configuration consisted of a group of solar cells covered
in Radium Paint, stacked back to back and encased in a thin layer
of lead foil, that produced enough electricity to power a small light
bulb for 3 years. All experimental research along these lines ended
when the Radium Paint was withdrawn from the market in the 1970's.
This
method of making electricity from nuclear material is vastly safer
than a fission reactor, and no long "half-life" materials
are ever produced.
For
more information on radio-luminescence based on the use of Radium,
please visit the following links:
http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/
http://www.roger-russell.com/jeffers/radiumdials.htm
http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=660
http://www.rerowland.com/dial_painters.htm
After
the Radium paint was withdrawn from the market, all research in this
field switched to the use of Tritium, as the beta particle exciter.
Over the last 15 years, Tritium powered self-luminous signs have
quietly come into common use. A simple Google search for "tritium
exit signs" demonstrates the point.
More
recently, attempts are beginning again to mate a self-glowing light
source, powered by Tritium, with a photo-voltaic cell, to make a
safe, solid-state power supply that operates on these principles.
One company in Wisconsin has filed patents for a method to encapsulate
Tritium and a family of high light output phosphors to produce a
thin, plastic sheet of material that glows brightly for 15 years.
Early estimates suggest that the power density of this type of power
supply could be quite high, with over 2kw/cubic foot within the realm
of possibility.
For
more information on this technology, please follow these links:
http://www.glopaint.com/index.htm
US
Patent Application #20070200074
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