RTGs

[Rohit Srinivas 2D]

hello everyone,
here is an interesting application of the thermoelectric effect that I found (due to all the news about rovers)
https://rps.nasa.gov/power-and-thermal- ... r-systems/
I was wondering if anyone knows how to calculate the cell potential for one of these units?

[Chem_Mod]

This is an interesting topic to research.
Let us know what you find and post here.

[Chem_Mod]

Hi Rohit,

RTG's work via the Seebeck effect, and the formula for voltage is not very exciting due to its empirical nature:

V=-S T

Where 'S' is the Seebeck constant and T is the temperature difference between the two different parts of your thermocouple. Whenever you see an equation of the form (property)=(constant)*(state variable) it means we measure the state variable (temperature difference) and the property (voltage) and then tabulate values of the constant (S) for different materials at different temperatures.

"Make the circuit and measure the voltage with a voltmeter" isn't the most exciting answer! However, there is plenty of excitement when you're dealing with Pu-238 which is pretty hot stuff. This is one of the main (if not the main) waste product of nuclear power plants that run on the U-235 fuel cycle in light water. It is the chief component of the problematic waste that people are always referring to when they talk about the waste products of 1st gen fission reactors.