If you had to orbit the earth, travel to the moon or just hover around in the outer reaches of space, you might not have fared well with normal power generation systems. The far reaches of space, with a total lack of gravity and sheer, bone-chilling cold is quite an obstacle for carrying your favorite large diesel generator for producing electric power out there.

There ought to be some way out to counter that coldness, to counter the harsh radiation effects of the sun or Jupiter’s Razzle-dazzle or even those one-off comets and hurtling meteors. Something those satellites and space-borne airships have to use, since they are really out of solar energy and other normal generators – Nuclear Power generation systems have served us with this onerous task of providing for energy for more than two decades and radioisotope thermoelectric generators are one such way of doing the same.

The Radioisotope Thermoelectric generator consists of two parts: One part which is responsible for producing heat and the other helps in converting this heat into electricity. The heat is produced due to its self – decaying intense radioactive waves by the plutonium – 238, a radioisotope. This resulting heat is converted by a thermo electric converter by utilizing the seebeck effect, a basic thermo electric principle, founded in 1822. A voltage is formed by the diffusion of electrons across the junction of two different metals which then forms a thermocouple.

This technology is now being used on space programs and the Galileo Mission, the Mars mission and more modern space programs have employed the nuclear technology for heat and electricity production. Other examples include the Pioneer, Viking, Voyager and Apollo Missions.

Safety is a major issue when it comes to producing nuclear energy and lack of adherence to safety norms has resulted in nothing less than fatality. However, radioisotope thermoelectric generators are relatively safer and need only to be contained within secure elements or shells to avoid contamination to the neighboring surroundings. These devices require no maintenance since there are no moving parts and can generate electricity for a number of years.

A constant demand for innovation in the way electricity has to be produced for different systems in a sheer variety of situations has made a wide range of types of generators to choose from. Complicated systems have evolved over time to cater to all kinds of electrical needs. RTGs are just the beginning.



Thanks to Barney Garcia for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Onan Generator 5500

With another major hurricane battering the Gulf and Atlantic coasts come questions about electric power and restoration, generators, portable power plants, and other means of getting by. Whether it’s a hurricane, earthquake, heat wave, natural disaster, terrorism attack, or any other interruption to the electrical grid, it soon sinks in – “When will power be restored?”

While the initial days with no power may be inconvenient – or even feel a bit adventurous in a way – it doesn’t take long before power restoration begins to become a major concern. We can all survive without television for a few days, weeks, or even months, but can we handle heat and humidity with no air conditioning? Can we deal with eating canned meat for days on end because refrigeration is not an option? What about all those e-mails waiting in your inbox with no way of logging on to retrieve them? How about work? Will your employer be open for business if the power is out? What about school? Will the kids be able to go to class or must you keep them home? And even if you could go to work or take the kids to school, what about the street lights?

Power outages affect you deeply. All of these questions are legitimate concerns. However, power outages have widespread implications. Not only are you personally inconvenienced, consider how hospitals, law enforcement agencies, wastewater treatment plants, water plants, power plants, and other vital infrastructures are affected.

Most communities and utilities have plans in place for restoring power in the wake of major outages with priorities given to vital services. While you’re longing for a hot shower or lights on at night, efforts are first focused on restoring power according to pre-determined priorities. Soon enough, power will be restored.

This doesn’t mean that you are powerless when it comes to power restoration. If you’ve ever spent any time at an RV resort, then you’ll already be familiar with the convenience of generators. Gas powered generators hum away, powering the needs of families on the go. Microwave dinners, DVD movies, and air conditioning are facts of life for many campers. These comforts of home are readily available to homeowners dealing with emergency power outages.

Generators are also called “portable power plants.” While your neighbors are waiting for days on end for the power company to come out and repair the lines, you can enjoy the basic necessities with your own portable power plant.

Large organizations with well-thought-out business continuity plans incorporate portable power plants into their plans. When the lights go out, the generators go on.

The city doesn’t have to come to a complete standstill when the power goes off. In fact, when the lights go off, workers spring to action. Portable power plants and generators soon come to life and repair technicians are dispatched to repair the infrastructure. In the meantime, if you or a loved one relies on power for medical reasons, aren’t you glad that this technology is available? Hurricanes and earthquakes can knock out the lights – but not for long when you have a good emergency power restoration plan in place.

By: Mr. Mark Decherd



For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:



Dryout® Inc.

1415 Colonial Blvd.

Fort Myers, Fl. 33907

http://www.dryout.net

239-437-7100

Water Damage



 

Dryout Inc Emergency water damage restoration, drying, deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists, technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.

 



Thanks to Mark Decherd for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Steam Generator Power

Can you answer charlotte_j27’s question about Generators?:

A. Both motors and generators produce alternating electric current.
B. Many of the parts are similar and both use electromagnetic fields to operate.
C. Both motors and generators use direct current and switches to turn.
D. Many of the parts are similar and both use turbines to make them spin.

Generators Tips