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A comment on US startup begins producing 40%-efficient thermophotovoltaic cells. Parent comment

Re:US startup begins producing 40%-efficient thermophotovolt... by discordance on Thursday October 05, 2023 @09:30AM (#37778367)
Yeah, that’s a radioisotope thermoelectric generator:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_...

There’s a story about some loggers finding an abandoned RTG in Siberia and sleeping next to it for warmth. They woke up with severe radiation burns.

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Re:US startup begins producing 40%-efficient thermophotovolt... by rich_sasha on Thursday October 05, 2023 @09:59AM (#37778724)
That's different, isn't it? An RTG only produces heat via radioactive decay. A nuclear reactor is a controlled chain reaction.
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Re:US startup begins producing 40%-efficient thermophotovolt... by mcpackieh on Thursday October 05, 2023 @01:21PM (#37781314)
Yes, those aren't nuclear reactors. However nuclear reactors with thermoelectric converters for power generation have been built before. There were the Soviet TOPAZ reactors and the US SNAP-10A reactor.
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Re:US startup begins producing 40%-efficient thermophotovolt... by shepherdjerred on Thursday October 05, 2023 @12:44PM (#37780855)
You'll find a similar story (minus the burns) in The Martian!

https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025

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