By George Kennedy 5 hours ago
Posted on 03/14/2014 12:42:38 PM PDT by ckilmer
A car that could run for 100 years on one tank of fuel? It sounds like a far-fetched idea, but it is just what a company is apparently claiming possible with the use of an atomic fuel that was abandoned during the Nixon administration. We’re talking about the sounds-too-good-to-be-true substance called “Thorium.”
Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive element. It was discovered in 1828 by a Norwegian mineralogist and identified by a Swedish chemist, who then named it after the Norse god, Thor.
ATOMIC CARS: See Photos of the 1957 Ford Nucleon Concept
According to this video from The Young Turks (which is informative, if a little low-rent at times), if put to use properly, would be low pressure and have lower chances of danger to the environment and humans than a uranium-based reactor. The thorium reactors can be much smaller too. Like a conventional reactor, the heat produced would create steam that would power a turbine:
The report claims that small amount of the dense thorium could produce tremendous amounts of heat. A company called Laser Power Systems is attempting to employ this power source in a vehicle. The company claims that: “1 gram [of thorium] yields more energy than 7,396 gallons of gas.” By their math, 8 grams of the substance could power a thorium turbine car for a century. This is not the first time this fuel has been suggested for cars. The concept of an automobile use was brought up in the 2011 documentary “The Thorium Dream”:
RELATED: See Photos of the 1963 Chrysler Turbine
It has also been envisioned as a power source futuristic-looking designs like the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept, shown here.
PHOTOS: See More of the 2009 Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept
Could this be a viable fuel for car? The testing in the 1960s found that the Thorium tetrafluoride used in a molten salt reactor was easier to process and quicker to stop a chain reaction, but light water reactors are far more common. In the LWR, thorium produces the same levels of toxic waste as our good ole’ uranium reactor. So there still may be a long way to go before we’re driving atomic cars.
The Small Modular Reactor is an interesting concept. I don’t know of any that have actually been sold, although the Tennessess Valley Authority may be buying several soon.
“Then you could maybe sink it into the ground in the back yard for easy shielding, and you wouldn’t need to worry about crashes.”
Considering the cost for licensing, fuel reprocessing and your need for accounting to the NRC for your share of bomb grade material I don’t think you really want one of these ...
Not to mention the four years it would take epa to review your environmental impact statement.
A vehicle that will last 100 years?
“That is already being done. There are town sized reactors being built in Texas. Great option for communities.”
Where and by whom?
Being built????????????
Goal is to have one operational by ......... 2022!
BTW, I worked on the Combustion Engineering SIR which is now essentially the Westinghouse SMR referenced in your link.
Being built????????????
Goal is to have one operational by ......... 2022!
BTW, I worked on the Combustion Engineering SIR which is now essentially the Westinghouse SMR referenced in your link.
____________
There was a country in texas that was in the planning stage a few years ago. I assumed that they had started building. I think they are a great idea.
But not without a flux capacitor!
“There was a country in texas “
You can take the Texas out of the country but you can’t take the country out of Texas ....
I am not the most technically correct Freeper.
If you don’t want the thorium powered car, their next article is on the water powered car ...
What is the cost of the bomb grade material needed to ‘start’ the thorium reactor?
Yes, of course. A nuclear reactor in every car. Highly radioactive substance in every tank. Nuclear reaction going on day and night. No off button. Radioactive waste.
Accidents won’t crack the reactor open and leak radioactive substance to the environment. Junking a car will be easy. No one will get radiation sickness. No one will blame their cancer on the car and sue the company.
Sure. A real smart idea.
< / obvious S >
About $0.50. It’s CHEAP.
For commuting anyway.
At least then your electric car wouldn't be coal-powered!
“One does not need bomb grade material to start the thorium, one only needs neutrons.”
No problem. Just go buy a neutron gun ..... duh ....
“Every technology has its drawbacks. The future of nuclear is Cold Fusion. “
But, according to you, there is no fusion involved in cold fusion. Of course there is no energy out involved in cold fusion but that is besides the point. One scam deserves another.
Ya don’t need to buy it silly, just borrow one long enough to jump start!
| How many times does a Freeper have to ask for you not to post to him? |
Horse manure. I have not said that, at all.
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