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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

Couldn't we have a lead box lined with these radiation to electricity converters with a small amount of radioactive material in the center, and have an energy generating device that would last for thousands or even millions of years? Imagine putting the sun in a box lined with solar cells, but on a much smaller scale.

Is there a reason this wouldn't work?

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[-] qjkxbmwvz@lemmy.sdf.org 35 points 1 year ago

Lot of comments about RTGs, but I don't think that's what OP is asking. RTGs convert heat to electricity, same as a conventional power plants


they just do it in a solid state way instead of steam. In RTGs it doesn't matter where the heat comes from; they are not really analogous to solar cells, as the title asks.

In fact, there are consumer products that use the same technology


you can buy a little electric fan that sits on top of a wood stove and, once up to temp, will start spinning. The electricity is generated by the thermal gradient using heat from the stove, essentially the same as an RTG.

[-] linearchaos@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

You can buy Sterling engines for that too and skip the electric phase.

[-] Bassman1805@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Yup, RTGs are still subject to the second law of thermodynamics.

this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2023
119 points (95.4% liked)

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