[time-nuts] Neat little cesium box
DaveH
info at blackmountainforge.com
Fri Jun 14 17:55:25 UTC 2013
Most RTG sources use Plutonium 238 or Strontium 90. Primary decay component
is Alpha particles which can be stopped dead by a few mm of shielding.
Good article on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator
Dave
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of SAIDJACK at aol.com
> Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 00:11
> To: time-nuts at febo.com
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Neat little cesium box
>
> Greg,
>
> the only power source I am aware off that can provide the ~5W power
> required by that Novus box for 10-12 years with 20lbs weight
> limit without any
> external power sources or maintenance is a radioisotope
> thermoelectric
> generator (RTG) such as those used on Spacecraft. The
> Russians used to use those
> also in light houses.
>
> Maybe the atomic decay could be counted and used for
> improving timing some
> how?!
>
> That said the radiation would probably have a very negative
> effect on any
> electronics near it for long-term stability. I would also not
> call that
> solution "disposable" anywhere on earth.
>
> Definitely not hobby level stuff..
>
> bye,
> Said
>
>
> In a message dated 6/13/2013 17:15:45 Pacific Daylight Time,
> engineering at mt.net writes:
>
> Tom,
>
> Thank you for your concern. I unfortunately cannot disclose
> many details
> about the proposed project only to say that the application
> transcends much
> of the typical "Time-Nuts" areas of normality. At present we are
> evaluating typical frequency references to see if they will
> fit into this project.
>
> What I can say is that phase noise is of little interest but
> log-term
> frequency drift is. The completed unit will unfortunately
> not see GPS signals
> during most of its lifetime, be constrained to a weight not
> exceeding 20
> lbs, be considered non-recoverable (disposable) due to areas
> of deployment
> thereby require a relatively cost-conscious design, have no
> access to a
> source of power let alone any natural power-producing
> resources and have an
> expected lifetime of 10-12 years without maintenance access.
>
> Most of the problems have been solved including the power
> source. This is
> not your typical kitchen table project. And, as new
> frequency references
> are developed and the design feasibility phase is still
> open, small and
> minimal power-consuming products such as the Novus unit will
> garner our
> attention.
>
> Thanks for your offer,
>
> Greg
>
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