Patent Number: 055901620
Section: claims

1. A method for powering an electrical circuit inside a nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: installing an electrical circuit inside a nuclear reactor;  selecting an isotopic material which has the property, when placed at a predetermined location within a neutron flux inside the nuclear reactor, or capturing neutrons from the neutron flux and being activated by neutron capture to a radioactive state having a subsequent decay chain during which at least one .beta.-particle is emitted;  constructing a .beta.-battery by placing a metallic collector in relationship to a mass of said selected isotopic material so that .beta.-particles emitted by said selected isotopic material are collected;  placing said .beta.-battery in an unactivated state at said predetermined location within the neutron-flux; and  connecting said .beta.-battery to said electrical circuit.  installing an electrical circuit inside a nuclear reactor;  selecting an isotopic material which has the property, when placed at a predetermined location within a neutron flux inside the nuclear reactor, of capturing neutrons from the neutron flux and being activated by neutron capture to a radioactive state having a subsequent decay chain during which at least one .beta.-particle is emitted;  constructing a .beta.-battery by placing a metallic collector in relationship to a mass of said selected isotopic material so that .beta.-particles emitted by said selected isotopic material are collected;  placing said .beta.-battery in an unactivated state at said predetermined location inside the nuclear reactor for a duration of time sufficient to activate said selected isotopic material;  moving said activated .beta.-battery to a different location in proximity to said electrical circuit; and  connecting said .beta.-battery to said electrical circuit.  selecting an isotopic material which has the property, when placed at a predetermined location within a neutron flux inside the nuclear reactor, of capturing neutrons from the neutron flux and being activated by neutron capture to a radioactive state having a subsequent decay chain during which at least one negative .beta.-particle is emitted;  constructing a .beta.-battery by placing a metallic collector in relationship to a mass of said selected isotopic material so that negative .beta.-particles emitted by said selected isotopic material are collected;  placing said .beta.-battery in an unactivated state at said predetermined location within the neutron flux; and  electrically connecting said .beta.-battery and said metal component so that collected negative .beta.-particles flow to said metal component. 2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said selected isotopic material is an isotope of thallium. 3. A method for powering an electrical circuit inside a nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: 4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said selected isotopic material is an isotope of thallium. 5. A method for supplying electrical current to a metal alloy component inside a nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: 6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said selected isotopic material is an isotope of thallium.