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Highlights • A energy harvester using the gamma heating effect was conceptualized. • A energy harvester using the existing temperature within the canister was designed. • The thermal energy harvester can supply enough energy for the electronics for 50 years. Abstract Monitoring the conditions inside enclosed metal vessels as found in spent fuel canisters and nuclear reactor pressure vessels is crucial to ensuring safe dry cask storage and reactor operation. In this paper two energy harvesters, a gamma radiation energy harvester and a thermal energy harvester, are designed to power wireless through-wall communication and in-situ monitoring of interior conditions in nuclear canisters. Their performance over 50 years of service in the canister is analyzed using radiation and thermal modeling of the canister, and a scaled experiment is performed to validate the designs. The gamma radiation energy harvester was found to have an energy output of 17.8 mW during the first-year of canister storage. However, its power out decreases to less than 1.0 mW after 50-years storage. The thermal energy harvester proved to be more practical with a simulated power output of 93.9 mW and an experimental output of 46.3 mW even after 50-years storage in the canister. Cost-benefit analysis and discussion for both energy harvesters were also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safety is the most important issue in the development of nuclear energy. This paper reports experimental studies of a thermoelectric energy harvesting system designed for integration in a nuclear power plant capable of performing in radiation rich environments and producing enough power to run wireless sensors meant to increase plant safety. Furthermore, the system, which utilizes wasted heat present in coolant system piping, has the unique ability to provide power in both normal and accidental situations, to run the sensors without the need for external power. Two energy harvesting prototypes were designed utilizing a heat pipe for heat transfer. The first can supply a maximum power of 2.25 W using two Bi2Te3 thermoelectric modules of 2.79cm (1.1'') \times 2.79 cm (1.1”), in a source temperature near 250 °C. A second design was put forward to extend the application in higher-temperature primary loops, in which one PbTe-Bi2Te3 hybrid TEG module of 5.6cm (2.2'') \times 5.6 cm (2.2”) can provide a power of 3.0 W when the hot side temperature reaches 340 °C. In addition to the energy harvester, wireless communication circuits were developed along with an integrated power management circuit for wireless data transmission. A high intensity gamma radiation experiment was conducted during which each component was irradiated. A total dose of 200 kGy±10% (20M rads) was applied to the first prototype in order to approximate the expected lifetime accumulation for one implemented thermoelectric generator. Results showed that thermoelectric modules used in the prototype had no reduction in voltage output throughout irradiation. Throughout the experiment the harvester system witnessed a small voltage drop in open circuit voltage attributed to a reduction in heat pipe performance from radiation exposure. We also acquired a baseline radiation survivability level for non-hardened, non-shielded electronics of 10^2 Gy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]