A chargeable atomic battery (CAB) includes a plurality of CAB units and a CAB housing to hold the plurality of CAB units. Each of the CAB units are formed of a precursor compact including precursor material particles embedded inside an encapsulation material. The precursor material particles include a precursor kernel formed of a precursor material that is initially manufactured in a stable state and convertible into an activated material that is an activated state via atomic irradiation by a particle radiation source. Upon the precursor material being converted, the precursor material is in a partially depleted state such that an initial portion of the precursor material is depleted and a recharge portion of the precursor material is convertible into the activated state via atomic irradiation by the particle radiation source for recharging the chargeable atomic battery.

A chargeable atomic battery (CAB) includes a plurality of CAB units and a CAB housing to hold the plurality of CAB units. Each of the CAB units are formed of a precursor compact including precursor material particles embedded inside an encapsulation material. The precursor material particles include a precursor kernel formed of a precursor material that is initially manufactured in a stable state and convertible into an activated material that is an activated state via atomic irradiation by a particle radiation source. Upon the precursor material being converted, the precursor material is in a partially depleted state such that an initial portion of the precursor material is depleted and a recharge portion of the precursor material is convertible into the activated state via atomic irradiation by the particle radiation source for recharging the chargeable atomic battery.

A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack. In one aspect, the insert includes: a plate structure having a first wall and a second wall that is non-coplanar to the first wall; the first and second walls being formed by a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement that is bent into the non-coplanar arrangement along a crease; and a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed into the single panel along the crease prior to bending.

A chargeable atomic battery (CAB), such as a fully ceramic encapsulated radioactive heat source, includes a plurality of CAB units and a CAB housing to hold the plurality of CAB units. Each of the CAB units are formed of a precursor compact including precursor material particles embedded inside an encapsulation material. The precursor material particles include a precursor kernel formed of a precursor material that is initially manufactured in a stable state or an unstable state and convertible into an activated material that is an activated state via irradiation by a particle radiation source. The precursor material particles can include one or more encapsulation coatings surrounding the precursor kernel. The precursor material can include Neptunium-237 and the activated material can include Plutonium-238. A radioisotope thermoelectric generator can include thermoelectrics coupled to the CAB units to convert radioactive emissions of the activated material into electrical power.

A system for monitoring an excimer bulb includes a thermoelectric energy harvester configured to be located adjacent to the excimer bulb and to convert thermal energy from the excimer bulb into electrical energy having a voltage. The system further includes a controller in electrical communication with the thermoelectric energy harvester and configured to calculate at least one of a remaining useful life of the excimer bulb or a current temperature of the excimer bulb based on the voltage of the electrical energy converted by the thermoelectric energy harvester.

A system for monitoring an excimer bulb includes a thermoelectric energy harvester configured to be located adjacent to the excimer bulb and to convert thermal energy from the excimer bulb into electrical energy having a voltage. The system further includes a controller in electrical communication with the thermoelectric energy harvester and configured to calculate at least one of a remaining useful life of the excimer bulb or a current temperature of the excimer bulb based on the voltage of the electrical energy converted by the thermoelectric energy harvester.

A nuclear fuel includes a net neutron-producing material, a neutron-consuming material, and a neutron-moderating material. Upon exposure of the net-producing material, the neutron-moderating material, and the neutron-consuming material to a neutron source, a ratio of the net neutron-producing material to the neutron-consuming material and a ratio of the net neutron-producing material to the neutron moderating material are operable to convert neutrons into charged particles without producing net neutrons.

A nuclear fuel includes a net neutron-producing material, a neutron-consuming material, and a neutron-moderating material. Upon exposure of the net-producing material, the neutron-moderating material, and the neutron-consuming material to a neutron source, a ratio of the net neutron-producing material to the neutron-consuming material and a ratio of the net neutron-producing material to the neutron moderating material are operable to convert neutrons into charged particles without producing net neutrons.

Electric An Electric Power Generation System generates electric power by capturing energy released from transmutation/conversion of one or more chemical element(s) into one or more other element/s, using any one or more elements of the periodic table. The captured energy is converted into electricity in a rector. The system preferably includes a transmutation reactor and an energy capturing system coupled to the reactor that converts captured energy into electricity, and connecting the electric energy to the electric grid or uses it on site power generation. In particular, the energy released in the of transmutation process is directly converted into electric power. Preferably, transmutation products that emerge in the form of charged particles, X-rays and heat, release energy removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter.

A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack. In one aspect, the insert includes: a plate structure having a first wall and a second wall that is non-coplanar to the first wall; the first and second walls being formed by a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement that is bent into the non-coplanar arrangement along a crease; and a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed into the single panel along the crease prior to bending.