US 11,705,251 B2
Fuel design and shielding design for radioisotope thermoelectric generators
Jacob Matthews, Alexandria, VA (US)
Assigned to ZENO POWER SYSTEMS, INC., Alexandria, VA (US)
Filed by Zeno Power Systems, Inc., Alexandria, VA (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/124,121.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/122,733, filed on Dec. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/948,479, filed on Dec. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0391092 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. G21G 4/06 (2006.01); G21F 1/12 (2006.01); G21H 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC G21G 4/06 (2013.01) [G21F 1/12 (2013.01); G21H 1/103 (2013.01)] 36 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel design, comprising:
a radioactive source material comprising a high-energy beta emitter, wherein:
the fuel design is configured to have a thickness that is equal to or less than a mean-free path of electrons emitted by the radioactive source material such that an electron emitted by the radioactive source material as a result of a beta decay process is able to pass through the fuel design without being stopped so as to prevent bremsstrahlung radiation from being generated within the fuel design.