How the Curiosity Rover's Nuclear Battery Works
Many people here in the far north have extensive solar setups and live completely off-grid. Unfortunately in winter, we only get ~4 hours of sunlight, and it's a pain to sweep snow off the panels every day at ~ -30C to -40C<p>We don't get much wind, and rivers are only liquid for ~4-5 months, so wind and hydro are not popular.<p>I've been investigating commercial thermoelectric couplings as a source in the winter. Everyone has a BIG wood stove burning 24x7 for ~6 months. My best research shows it shouldn't be hard to see +400C on the top surface of the stove. My plan is to have a radiator outside, run anti-freeze in the system and get an approx 400 deg C temperature drop.<p>Now, my interest is peaked in this approach from NASA.
I wonder how long it will be until I can buy or build such a thing?