Method and apparatus for utilizing radiation energy by alpha decay in electric power generating system

• Main Author: MASAYUKI TAKEBE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 09.09.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AIR SUPPLY; APPLICATIONS OF RADIATION FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; BLASTING; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; DRAUGHT-INDUCING; FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS; FLUES; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING; NUCLEAR PHYSICS; OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES; PHYSICS; REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTIONRESIDUES; SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL, WITH COMBUSTIBLEMIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF; SUPPLYING NON-COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID OR GAS; UTILISING COSMIC RADIATION; WEAPONS

The present invention implements a power generation system in which an improved efficiency of fuel combustion and effective purification of exhaust gas can be attained with the use of radiation energies caused by alpha-decay of a natural radioactive element. Namely, radiation energies and neutrons caused by alpha-decay of the natural radioactive element which emits 0.6 becquerels/g or more of alpha rays are irradiated to a supply fuel and intake air, necessary for combustion in a combustion equipment in a power generation system using a fossil fuel, to transform oxygen contained in the intake air into active oxygen which is to be used in a fuel activator (5) and air activator (2) to implement a complete combustion of the mixture of the intake air and supply fuel. Also, a neutron irradiator (3) is provided to irradiate neutrons also caused by the alpha-decay. A water activator (9) with an aeration unit is provided to activate water supplied to a steam generator. In addition, an exhaust gas purifier (7) with an aeration unit is provided to purify the exhaust gas from the combustion equipment.