White Paper about NAG Technology
Redacted White Paper:
DARPA Development of Nuclear Accelerated Generators for the United States Military
Executive Engineering July 30, 2006
Patent Number: PTO Classified 2005
Patent Number: PTO Declassifed 2010
Patent File: PTO Classified 2005
Patent File: PTO Declassifeid 2010
Manufacturing Process: DOD Classified
Isotope Process: DOE Classified
The Thesis:
The thesis of this white paper is that DARPA should actively
participate in the development of a new generation of power-generating
devices based on the concept of producing electrical power from radio
isotopic fuel sources. Such devices, known as Nuclear Accelerated
Generators (NAG's), represent an entirely new and
innovative way at looking at the way electrical power is created. It is
alleged by Executive Engineering that recent
innovations in both materials and technology have made such devices
feasible to generate both exceedingly large and exceptionally small
amounts of electrical power and to do it more efficiently, over a longer
period of time and with fewer breakdowns than conventional technologies
now being utilized. Currently the MEMS laboratory is utilizing the
advanced techniques necessary for the fabrication of the NAG
devices.
Such Nuclear Accelerated Generators should make ideal power sources for
use by the military for the simple reason that they are completely
scalable; that is, they can be used equally well to produce small
amounts of power in the 1-milliwatt range or large amounts of power in
the 5-Megawatt range.
Background:
Due to the fact that the United Sates military depends, to a
large extent, on the use of high-technology devices to maintain
superiority over potential enemies, the combined armed forces consume
massive mounts of fuel to meet their need for power. Such needs run the
gamut from small, hand-held devices designed for individual soldiers all
the way to the large engines that propel planes, tanks and ships. In all
of these cases, the military expends a great deal of resources in
gathering, storing, shipping and utilizing the various types fuel for
these devices.
Individual soldiers, and their respective units on the ground, often
must carry many extra pounds of batteries into the field to ensure that
power is available for such things as night vision goggles, laser scopes
for weapons, computers, radios and a host of other small devices. At the
other end of the spectrum, the military also utilizes enormous resources
to ensure adequate fuel supplies for tanks, planes and ships whenever
and wherever they are needed. It is often the case that Army tanks and
other large vehicles are followed by whole convoys of tankers carrying
the fuel they need. Utilization of the NAG devices to
provide power would make this a moot point. Since there would be no need
whatsoever for any fuel, there would be no need for any expenditures on
fuel tankers, tanker trucks, storage facilities or, even, batteries for
the smaller devices.
Likewise, pilots of both combat and cargo planes must also keep a
constant eye on their fuel gauges so as not to outrun there respective
fuel sources. Often, they are refueled in the air to avoid running out
of fuel. The weight-to-power ratio of the NAG would
allow it to power both combat and cargo planes with no fueling ever
required.
In fact, widespread use of the NAG to provide power
for industrial, civilian and military applications would eliminate both
chronic fuel shortages as well as diminishing the ever-spiraling cost of
traditional fuel sources.
Along with its great versatility, one of the greatest advantages of the
NAG is its economy of use. For instance, the NAG
technology would virtually eliminate dependence on conventional power
sources such as fuel cells, solar cells, fossil fuel engines and diesel
engines. Not only would the NAG eliminate all these sources of power but
it would do it far less expensively than current technology allows.
Previous attempts have also been attempted for the use of nuclear
power. Beginning with Dr. Paul Brown back in the 1980's, sporadic
attempts have been made to create isotopic nuclear batteries. Other than
RTG, all such attempts have failed. Dr. Brown had innovative ideas but,
ultimately, he could not make it work. Although his device represented a
new concept in power, his experiments, nevertheless, failed.
The Nuclear Accelerated Generator (NAG): The First
Generation
Executive Engineering has had, and continues to have, a close working
relationship with the energy industry for ten years. This relationship
has proven beneficial in that Executive Engineering has
had inside information on many of the latest developments in the energy
field, particularly as they relate to devices to store energy and to
power vehicles. It was knowledge gained during work on these devices
(particularly the failures encountered with conventional approaches)
that ultimately led to the development of the NAG.
Fuel Source:
Since isotopes are the fuel of all Nuclear Accelerated
Generators, a quick note about radioactive isotopes is in
order. Radioactive isotopes are continually being
produced as part of radioactive waste. Current estimates place the
amount of such waste in the United States at over 100 million gallons.
They are being stored in "temporary" tanks, at underground sites at
great expense to the taxpayers and at serious hazard to the environment
for the simple reason that nobody, to date, has discovered large-scale
practical uses for them. People in the industry have told
Executive Engineering, developer of the NAG
that, if these isotopes were ever needed, they could be easily extracted
in bulk quantities from nuclear waste and the cost of this process would
decrease dramatically. Isotope production at existing levels costs less
than the current cost of fuel even if only assuming a longevity of one
half life and no trade-in value. With numerous half lives of many
isotopes quite possible and trade-in values factored in, the cost
advantage of the isotopic fuel is even more pronounced. Further, as the
demand for isotopes inevitably grows, the costs associated with their
production will only decrease.
Once placed as fuel into a NAG, these radioactive
fuels could theoretically last from approximately three years to more
than 400 years before needing to be replaced. No additional, outside
electrical power is ever needed; the NAG is completely and totally
self-sustaining. Further, due to the unique design of the NAG, there is
virtually no danger of meltdowns and absolutely no danger of explosions
or other catastrophic incidents. The device can stop working or can be
shut down for maintenance with no concomitant danger to personnel, the
environment or nearby population centers.
The fuel source of the Nuclear Accelerated Generator (NAG)
is a radioisotope. There are, in fact, many different isotopes that can
be used as a power source for the NAG. Pure beta emitters work best in
the device and will extend the device's life the longest. Included in
this list would be such isotopes as NI-63, SR-90, PM-147, and SN-121m.
All appear to have the ideal properties for the production of power. In
fact, most such isotopes have at least 10 half-lives. Assuming an active
lifespan of three to 100 years, most isotopes would have at least 10
half lives worth of useful energy discharge. This gives them trade-in
value as well as their energy value.
It is clear that that the days of rocket engines and fossil fuels are
over. Nuclear isotopic power will bring to fruition such things as
particle beam weapons, ion-powered space planes, nuclear powered jet
aircraft, high-powered laser canons, nuclear powered tanks, nuclear
powered naval ships and, even, cryogenic coolers. Nag devices could also
be easily adapted to power large metropolitan areas, forward military
bases and any other application where dependable power is needed in
remote areas for any reason. Not only can the NAG
devices do all these things, it can do it cheaper and more efficiently
than current technology. In short the only limitation is the imagination
brought to bear on the issue.
Power Comparison
A comparison of the current RTG thermal conversions with the same
conversions of our device will reveal several advantages of the NAG
device. Current RTG efficiency equals approximately 3% - 10% meaning 33
curies of isotopic fuel will yield about 1 watt of thermal power. The
NAG device, as developed by Executive Engineering, is
approximately 60% - 80% efficient so that that same 33 curies of
isotopic fuel will yield about 380 watts of power. In other words, the
NAG devices require ~400 times less isotopic fuel to
yield the same power as the current RTG. If you compare pure isotope
heat power @ 3% to our NAG's power in watts this number
is then 100,000 less isotopic fuel.
Advantages of Utilizing The Nuclear Accelerated Generator (NAG):
It is asserted by Executive Engineering that use of the
NAG to generate electricity would accrue several specific and
significant benefits.
Entirely Self-Contained
Since the Isotope supplies all the power the device requires to operate no outside power source are needed.
Oil Dependency
In the first place, if a significant portion of the generating capacity of the United States was switched over to this type of device, a significant percentage of foreign oil dependence could be eliminated. This, in turn, could lead to a steady decrease in the price of fossil fuels, including oil and gas. Estimates vary wildly on how many years the world's oil reserves will last but it is admitted by everyone that the amount of reserves is finite; they will eventually run out. The NAG represents a new class of generating devices poised to fill the gap, both to delay the depletion of the oil reserves and to take over when they eventually run out.
Safety
It is asserted by Executive Engineering that there are several other significant attributes that make the NAG far safer than conventional facilities. To begin with, the NAG needs no large-scale containment building or special shielding. The NAG has absolutely no external emissions and produces no contaminated steam that can leak. It also produces no nuclear waste on its own; to the contrary, it utilizes nuclear waste for its own fuel. Also, the NAG cannot produce any contaminated water since no water (or other liquid) comes in contact with the nuclear material. The nuclear fuel for the NAG is solid and there are no rods that need to be adjusted to produce different power levels. Lastly, and possibly most important, the radioactive isotopes that power the NAG do not need to be cooled. The NAG is not, in and of itself, a heat-producing device as is a conventional nuclear facility. One gram of Strontium 90 (a potential and likely fuel for the NAG) can produce 10,000 watts of power and watt of heat.
ADAPTABILITY
Perhaps the most important aspect of the NAG
is its adaptability to widely differing applications, both civilian and
military. For instance, this device should easily be able to handle the
electrical generating tasks for large metropolitan and rural areas
alike. However, since this technology is truly scalable, there should be
no problem adapting it to power other things as well, including
virtually any ship in the Navy. This could mean, for instance, that
whole fleets could sail for years without needing to refuel. The small
size of the NAG should make it quite feasible to
retrofit existing ships with this new power supply. Executive
Engineering also believes that versions of the NAG
could be made to power other large military vehicles such as tanks and
armored personnel carriers.
It is seriously suggested that tanks, fitted with NAG
power supplies, could run for years without the need to worry about
expensive and cumbersome fuel re-supply efforts. Other military uses
could include the ability to parachute smaller NAGs
directly into the field to supply the power needs for forward military
bases, military hospitals and other such needs, all without the need for
fuel/fuel tanks/trucks.
Civilian uses could include instances of disaster relief in such cases
where large areas of land have been devastated by natural disasters such
as floods or earthquakes. NAGs could be transported or
dropped in to provide quick, efficient power for relief teams.
Also, unlike conventional devices, the NAG can work under a wide range
of external conditions, ranging from many degrees above zero to many
degrees below zero. Simply put, this device should work equally well in
the Antarctic or the Sahara.
The isotopic fuel of the NAG can easily be transferred
from one device to another allowing for quick transfer and minimal loss
of power. For instance, if an NAG were to become damaged for one reason
or another, the old/damaged one could be unhooked from the device, and a
new one attached with very little effort; even in the field.
COST/EFFICIENCY
There are other advantages to using radioactive isotopes as fuel. Since the availability of the atomic isotopes is more than ample, costs of this fuel should be considerably less than either conventional atomic fuel or fossil fuel. Further, since the casement of the NAG is not very expensive, the cost of replacing damaged and/or broken parts is quite small. It is, relatively speaking, a low-cost replacement device.
POWER OUTPUT
It is further asserted that this NAG
technology could produce ~30-50 times more power than conventional
nuclear technology. This is not a guess; it has been well established in
experiments. This could mean that, to produce a given amount of power, a
facility could be built far smaller (and, therefore, much cheaper) than
existing nuclear or fossil-fuel power plants.
It is admitted that much of this sounds too good to be true but
Executive Engineering is convinced that this device, although totally
new in concept, is based on hard science and can be developed to produce
exactly what is claimed. It is firmly believed that research will bear
out each and every one of the statements made on its behalf.
Radiological Damage
There is no such thing as a safe isotope as even a
few molecules of particular isotope over a long time can be damaging.
From the perspective of a conventional nuclear power plant, however, a
NAG is one of the safes devices on the planet. You
cannot get a meltdown situation, blow it up, or use the isotope to make
a bomb. From an emission point of view, it is a safe device to handle.
The device is self-contained with little or no X-Rays whether in
operation or not in operation. No Beta particles are ever emitted
outside the casing of the device.
There are some isotopes that do emit Gamma radiation and, in those rare
cases, it may become necessary to add shielding for the Gamma rays. Most
of the isotopes being considered for the NAG devices do
not emit Gamma rays and, therefore, do not carry this burden. Basically,
the only possible way for a person to get sick from this device would be
for him to physically pry the device open and breathe from inside it. A
distance of two to ten feet from the device is quite sufficient to
protect personnel from danger even if it were to be shot open or
exploded. The only danger would be if the isotope actually entered a
person's body or came in prolonged contact with the skin.
Repair and Maintenance
It is reasonably expected that both these NAG
devices should have a 10-year life span after which time the nuclear
source would be removed and replaced. It is an easy task to replace
either the nuclear source or the Power Core. Generally, it is expected
that, over the five to ten-year life span, the Power Core will become
damaged from the constant bombardment of the Beta particles and would
need to be replaced. Unlike current RTG's, a NAG device
does not require the source to be in contact with the walls of the
device. The source is mounted in the middle and the removal and
reinsertion is an easy task requiring very little time or effort. The
exchange would involve a snap-in/snap-out operation using safety
procedures to ensure correct operation.
Summary:
The Nuclear Accelerated Generator (NAG) is believed to represent an entirely new concept in power generation. It is asserted that this device can and will produce stationary power sufficient for the needs of large cities or military bases. It is also asserted that the NAG offers the only true scalable source of power; one that can provide power to a whole range of applications ranging from small, hand-held devices carried by individual soldiers to large military equipment including ships, planes, tanks, armored personnel carriers and even applications as the power supply for particle beam weapons. It is designed to be portable, durable, self-sustaining, safe and, above all, powerful.
Final Note:
This article is intended to offer a preview of the Nuclear
Accelerated Generator. It is not meant to be an all-inclusive report on
how it has been developed and how it would be manufactured. Those
details, while undoubtedly of great interest to many people will, of
necessity, remain confidential.
It should be noted that the NAG device has been patented and the patent
number, also, will remain confidential. The Nuclear Accelerated
Generator is, in its entirety, 100% the proprietary property of
Executive Engineering of Florida.