[time-nuts] Neat little cesium box

DaveH info at blackmountainforge.com
Fri Jun 14 13:55:25 EDT 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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