A system includes a nuclear reactor having a plurality of fuel rods of radioactive decay material distributed within and embedded within a heat exchange matrix. A plurality of coolant tubes is distributed within and embedded within the heat exchange matrix, interspersed with the plurality of fuel rods. The heat exchange matrix is configured to conduct heat from the fuel rods to the coolant tubes.

A system includes a nuclear reactor having a plurality of fuel rods of radioactive decay material distributed within and embedded within a heat exchange matrix. A plurality of coolant tubes is distributed within and embedded within the heat exchange matrix, interspersed with the plurality of fuel rods. The heat exchange matrix is configured to conduct heat from the fuel rods to the coolant tubes.

Power generation systems, such as nuclear power generation systems, are described herein. A representative power generation system includes a heat source, a heat pipe, and a thermophotovoltaic cell. The heat pipe includes a first region and a second region. The first region is positioned to absorb heat from the heat source, and the second region is positioned to radiate at least a portion of the absorbed heat away from the heat pipe as thermal radiation. The thermophotovoltaic cell is positioned to receive the thermal radiation from the second region of the heat pipe and to convert at least a portion of the thermal radiation to electrical energy. The power generation system can further include another heat pipe positioned to remove waste heat from the thermophotovoltaic cell.

Power generation systems, such as nuclear power generation systems, are described herein. A representative power generation system includes a heat source, a heat pipe, and a thermophotovoltaic cell. The heat pipe includes a first region and a second region. The first region is positioned to absorb heat from the heat source, and the second region is positioned to radiate at least a portion of the absorbed heat away from the heat pipe as thermal radiation. The thermophotovoltaic cell is positioned to receive the thermal radiation from the second region of the heat pipe and to convert at least a portion of the thermal radiation to electrical energy. The power generation system can further include another heat pipe positioned to remove waste heat from the thermophotovoltaic cell.

A vacuum micro-electronics device that utilizes fissile material capable of using the existing neutron leakage from the fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor to produce thermal energy to power the heater/cathode element of the vacuum micro-electronics device and a self-powered detector emitter to produce the voltage/current necessary to power the anode/plate terminal of the vacuum micro-electronics device.

A thermoelectric cooler including a thermoelectric junction and a radiation source. The thermoelectric cooler includes n-type material, p-type material, and an electrical power source. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity of the n and p type materials. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high coefficient of performance (COP) values with a thermoelectric cooler that includes providing a thermoelectric cooler and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric cooler including an n-type material, p-type material, an electrical power source, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons from the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

A thermoelectric cooler including a thermoelectric junction and a radiation source. The thermoelectric cooler includes n-type material, p-type material, and an electrical power source. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity of the n and p type materials. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high coefficient of performance (COP) values with a thermoelectric cooler that includes providing a thermoelectric cooler and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric cooler including an n-type material, p-type material, an electrical power source, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons from the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

The present disclosure is directed to a system including a nuclear thermal rocket or a nuclear reactor, at least one nuclear electric thruster coupled to the nuclear thermal rocket or the nuclear reactor, and a Nuclear Thermionic Avalanche Cell (NTAC) configured to generate electrical power. The NTAC cell may be positioned around a nuclear reactor core of the nuclear thermal rocket or the nuclear reactor, and the nuclear electric thruster may be powered by the NTAC generated electrical power.

The present disclosure is directed to a system including a nuclear thermal rocket or a nuclear reactor, at least one nuclear electric thruster coupled to the nuclear thermal rocket or the nuclear reactor, and a Nuclear Thermionic Avalanche Cell (NTAC) configured to generate electrical power. The NTAC cell may be positioned around a nuclear reactor core of the nuclear thermal rocket or the nuclear reactor, and the nuclear electric thruster may be powered by the NTAC generated electrical power.

A method, system, and apparatus for the selective transfer of thermoelectrically generated electric power to operation systems of a nuclear reactor system including thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy and selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor system.