Energy harvesting for wireless communications in nuclear environment

Abstract

Monitoring the conditions inside enclosed metal vessels as found in spent fuel canisters and nuclear reactor pressure vessels is crucial to ensuring safe dry cask storage and reactor operation. In this paper two energy harvesters, a gamma radiation energy harvester and a thermal energy harvester, are designed to power wireless through-wall communication and in-situ monitoring of interior conditions in nuclear canisters. Their performance over 50 years of service in the canister is analyzed using radiation and thermal modeling of the canister, and a scaled experiment is performed to validate the designs. The gamma radiation energy harvester was found to have an energy output of 17.8 mW during the first-year of canister storage. However, its power out decreases to less than 1.0 mW after 50-years storage. The thermal energy harvester proved to be more practical with a simulated power output of 93.9 mW and an experimental output of 46.3 mW even after 50-years storage in the canister. Cost-benefit analysis and discussion for both energy harvesters were also given.