Radioisotopic Battery For Long-Life, Buried Autonomous Power

Indirect conversion radioisotopic batteries (ICRBs) are investigated for use as long-life power source for autonomous buried applications. As part of this work the optimum configuration of this class of battery has been experimentally investigated. An ICRB was buried at a depth of 90cm for two months during which time its voltage was monitored, with these results presented. The ICRB successfully demonstrated the buried operation of this class of battery and suggested that the power of the device halves at twice the half-life of the radioisotope used.