The concept of a car with a power plant on radioactive elements was developed by Cadillac back in 2009. It has nothing to do with nuclear reactors, but it has the same huge potential and an almost infinite supply of fuel.
Thorium laser
The American company Laser Power Systems has developed an alternative laser design based on the use of energy from the weakly radioactive element thorium. Due to a number of features, it cannot be used as an analogue of industrial or scientific lasers. However, the installation radiates thermal energy of enormous power and, at the same time, has an extremely low flow fuel.
On its basis, Cadillac designers developed a new type of power plant for cars. A pseudo-laser beam heats water or similar coolant in a special tank, turning it into steam, which is then used to turn a turbine. It, in turn, can transmit torque to the wheels of a car or set in motion a generator shaft that will generate electricity. With a weight of 230 kg, the plant has a power of about 250 kW. It uses thorium salts as fuel, 1 gram of which is similar in terms of energy output to 7,500 liters of gasoline.
car concept
This power point can be used in car civil purpose Its prototype is currently being tested. A fundamental alteration of the running gear of the car is not required, however, the considerable weight of the installation and the specific cooling system significantly affect the shape and dimensions of the car body. Particular attention is paid to anti-radiation protection - although the system does not undergo nuclear fission, thorium itself is a fairly intense source of radiation that poses a threat to the human body.
No problems with maintenance and refueling of the car are expected - 8 grams of repetition is enough for 500,000 km of run, so the fuel will be installed at the factory 1 time during the operation of the car. Unlike plutonium or uranium, thorium is almost never used in nuclear power, and its ore reserves on the planet are 3-4 times higher. With their industrial development, the cost of thorium fuel can be low enough for a car to be profitable in production and operation. However, it remains open question on the disposal of spent fuel and the impact of such cars on the environment.
"And with equal speed, atomic machines of the most varied types invaded industry. Railways paid huge sums for the right to be the first to introduce atomic traction, atomic smelting of metals was introduced with such haste that several factories exploded due to inept handling of new energy ... "
H. G. Wells "The World Set Free"
The problem of creating compact nuclear reactors has long been of concern to mankind. An incredibly economical, practically eternal, rather environmentally friendly (if you do not take into account the likelihood of an accident) engine could save the Earth from resource depletion, help cleanse the atmosphere, and make life easier for an ordinary person. But so far, only large ships and submarines are moving on nuclear power; when it comes to cars and trains - is unknown. Although history knows several attempts to put the reactor on wheels.
Dimensions - this is the main problem that does not allow to supply the car nuclear engine. The cooling system alone, which requires a constant supply of fresh coolant, takes up so much space that the useful space of a nuclear car is reduced to zero. Stationary nuclear power plants use water from external tanks for cooling, nuclear ships and submarines also have no shortage of heat-removing material, but ground transport the entire supply of cooler will have to be carried with you. Purely theoretically, the problem can be solved by the creation of a reactor operating on the principle of controlled thermonuclear fusion. It will be noticeably safer and more compact. existing systems. But, unfortunately, such a source of energy remains only a fantasy. The M103 was about to be rebuilt for testing on its nuclear reactor chassis. But the Ministry of Defense eventually cut off funding for a complex and not very promising project. The soldiers had other tasks ahead of them.
Chapter 1. Ford Nucleon (1957)
The Ford Nucleon concept car has become the most famous nuclear car. There is whole line reasons. He became the first such development, as well as one of two such machines, created at least in the form of a layout and demonstrated at the auto show.
The question “whether it is necessary to develop an atomic concept” did not stand in those days. "Nucleon" was not a private attempt by a lone designer, but the product of serious work of engineers and technicians. The car was thought out from the first to the last screw, taking into account the need for road maintenance common use and hazard factor for passenger exposure. The matter remained small: to create the required engine.
The most serious disadvantage of the use of atomic energy is the excessive bulkiness of the reactor. In the picture - NPP Enrico Fermi II (Michigan, USA)
However, several concepts for nuclear vehicles saw the light of day in the 20th century. Some are in the form of layouts, some are in the form of hand-drawn sketches. Two outbreaks of interest in land-based nuclear transport can be distinguished - in the 1950-1960s and in 2010-2011. The first was connected with the arms race and the desire of the two superpowers, the USSR and the USA, to overtake each other technologically. In addition, in those days, scientists sincerely believed that the atom was about to be subjugated completely and irrevocably (and things, to be honest, are still there). The second period of interest has a different justification. Today, the discovery of controlled thermonuclear fusion is indeed on the horizon, and companies are trying to develop a concept in advance where this principle will be applicable, thereby overtaking competitors. Well, let's see how meaningful these developments are.
nuclear tank
An interesting area of development in the field of nuclear-powered ground vehicles has become the topic of an atomic tank. When the atom was supposed to be used exclusively for military purposes, in the early 1950s, the US Army command allocated a serious grant to develop a tank capable of using the power of a nuclear reaction.
Tank TV-1 was presented at the third conference on tank building in the form of a layout.
At the third conference on tank building (Question Mark III), held by the army command in 1954, the question of the possibility of creating a nuclear engine for a tank was first raised. Unlike automotive concepts, did not occur here serious problems with mass and volume: it was quite possible to put a slightly modified reactor from a submarine on the tank. The first concept of a heavy nuclear tank was named TV-1. It was assumed that the machine would weigh about 70 tons (half of them - the engine), the thickness of the armor reached 350 mm. But one problem in those years could not be solved in any way - crew shielding. If automotive designers could afford to dream up, then the army team did not differ in wild imagination and looked at the world from an operational point of view. And something told the engineers that it was still impossible to build an atomic tank.
In 1955, at the next such conference, the second R32 project with a lighter reactor was presented. The theoretical mass of the tank is 50 tons, 120 mm armor, 90 mm smooth bore gun: this concept was already similar to the truth. But the lack of a crew shielding solution sent the R32 to the dustbin of history. The last attempt to build an atomic tank occurred in 1959, when the heavy tank M103
The terms of reference were received by a group of Ford engineers in 1956, and a year later the concept was ready. Of course, the functionality of the Ford Nucleon was in doubt. Only two passenger seats and a tiny trunk in front: the car could only serve as entertainment. vehicle. As family car he clearly didn't fit. But such a goal was not set. The nuclear plant, which occupied 2/3 of the volume and mass of the car, was a reduced copy of the standard S2W reactor from the USS Nautilus submarine. True, it was not possible to reduce a 35-ton colossus 6 meters high to “automobile” dimensions: the designers understood this very well. In a limited volume, it was necessary to place the reactor itself, the steam generator and two turbines: one was supposed to create torque (in other words, turn the wheels), the other - to turn the generator. The cooling problem was planned to be solved by condensing the exhaust steam back into water.
William Ford next to a concept car model, 1957
In principle, the idea looked feasible and even workable. The main advantage was the complete absence of emissions into the atmosphere and monstrous durability power unit. Of course, it was problematic to fill new uranium rods into the old reactor, so the machine was “refueled” by changing the reactor. But one gas station should have been enough for at least 8,000 kilometers (options up to 30,000 were considered), so this was not considered a problem. It was planned to enrich the used reactors at the factory - this is how, for example, charging and exchange stations work today. gas cylinders. Finally, the most important advantage was the noiselessness of the Nucleon. In the absence of a process internal combustion nothing but the barely audible hum of the turbines would disturb the peace of the surrounding world. Still, the car remained very bulky. The futuristic design, of course, smoothed this impression, but the engineers understood the importance of isolating the cabin from the reactor, and therefore the mass and dimensions of the protective plates were commensurate with the mass and dimensions of the engine itself. It was for security reasons, and not at the whim of the artist, that the cabin was moved forward in order to move passengers as far as possible from the dangerous “heart” of the car. The fuel capsule was placed in the part farthest from the cockpit - below, under the engine, with a triple layer of insulation. But what is 1-2 meters for radioactive radiation? Nothing, puff.
Ford Nucleon was made in the form of a 3/8 scale model, shown at a number of exhibitions and salons. But time passed, and compact reactors did not appear and did not appear. full size copy it made no sense to build cars, especially since Ford itself did not have sufficient capacity to develop its own nuclear engine. Leading American manufacturer reactors for submarines, Westinghouse Electric was also in no hurry to change the form factor of its designs. And the ambitious project was turned off, so plainly and without giving it a start. But five years later, he got a sequel.
Chapter 2. Ford Seattle-ite XXI (1962)
In 1961, the UN adopted the famous declaration on the prohibition of the use of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons. Accordingly, a huge number of laboratories working in this area had to suspend research. Efforts urgently needed to be directed in a peaceful direction. Marketers Ford noticed a certain signal in this and immediately sent a task to the engineers: to continue the theme of "Nucleon". And there was Ford Seattle-ite XXI.
This time, the developers tried not to repeat the mistakes made during the design previous model. In particular, they retained the traditional automotive layout: the engine in front, then the passenger compartment, then the trunk of a normal size. Of course, the car turned out to be huge, but it was in the spirit of the Americans of the 1960s and did not violate the layman's concept of beauty. A problem arose immediately. In the Nucleon, the heavy reactor was "lying" on an uncontrolled rear axle. In Seattle-ite, the entire mass of the engine had to be somehow placed on front axle, while providing a normal turning radius of the car and adequate handling. A rather original way out of the situation was found: two front axles were made. All four wheels turned, while calmly supporting the mass of the reactor.
Unlike its predecessor, the Seattle-ite was built in 1:1 scale.
Even more surprising was the ability to "unfasten" the entire front of the car and replace it with another. Today, many cars are offered with several engine options. In the Seattle-ite, powertrains could be changed; an economical version with a capacity of 60 hp was supposed. and high-speed power of 400 hp.
Since the compact atomic engine still did not exist in 1962, the engineers were not very worried about its design and systems. But they tried to fit into the concept as many fantastic ideas as possible, which at that time were often technologically impossible. Why waste time on trifles if you can’t build a car anyway (yet).
Seattle-ite promo picture: the company hoped that in soon man will subdue the atom and the car can be put into series
So, in the design of the Ford Seattle-ite XXI, a number of solutions found their place, ahead of their time by half a century. For example, the concept car did not have a steering wheel as such. Manage "Ford" was supposed to touch with your fingers special panel- the prototype of the modern touchscreen. Also in the cabin was provided on-board computer(also with a touchscreen, which did not exist at that time), whose interface, invented by the artists, was somewhat reminiscent of Windows (I remind you: Bill Gates was then 7 years old). The main purpose of the computer was to plot a route - this became the prototype of a GPS navigator. Sensors installed throughout the body took into account traffic situation, the proximity of other cars, weather. In fact, Ford engineers predicted the appearance of both parking sensors and rain sensors with automatic switching on of the brushes. Ford Seattle-ite XXI glass had variable degree dimming depending on luminous flux outside.
Another highlight was the possibility of installing a fuel cell power unit instead of a nuclear engine. Again, it is worth recalling that the first workable and compact fuel cells appeared in the 1980s, and they began to be used everywhere only in the 21st century.
The scheme of fastening the power unit to the car: it could be replaced with a more powerful one
Ford Seattle-ite XXI, unlike its predecessor, was made in the form of a full-size layout. The car turned out to be very low and elegant, it made a splash at a number of car dealerships (especially in conjunction with promo girls), but technological barriers did not allow even a prototype concept car to be created. Today, almost all the fantastic ideas proposed in Seattle-ite are easily implemented. In addition to the most important - a compact nuclear engine. Therefore this amazing car continues to amaze the imagination of designers around the world.
Caterpillar nuclear power plant
In the Soviet Union, atomic tanks and vehicles were not developed, realizing that this was originally fantastic projects. But a mobile nuclear power plant that fits into several all-terrain vehicles was not only designed, but even built and put into operation. The amazing project was called TES-3.
Numerous photographs of the first energy self-propelled vehicle (the one that housed the control panel) appeared in Soviet newspapers.
The first talk about a mobile nuclear power plant came in the mid-1950s. Initiated the development similar system Efim Pavlovich Slavsky, at that time First Deputy Minister of Medium Machine Building of the USSR, and later the head of the entire Soviet nuclear industry. The development was carried out by a number of factories and institutes. The project of the Obninsk Physics and Energy Institute was recognized as the most promising.
The power plant itself was a small-sized double-circuit pressurized water reactor. Water also acted as a working fluid; the generator turbine was driven by steam. The equipment was placed on a chassis extended to 10 rollers from a heavy T-10 tank. The chassis received the general name "energy self-propelled".
The whole power plant consisted of four self-propelled vehicles. On the first - the reactor itself with bioprotection and an air radiator, on the second - steam generators and circulation pumps, on the third - a turbogenerator, and on the fourth - a control panel and backup equipment. The deployment of the station took several hours; it could not function on the move, because all self-propelled vehicles had to be connected by wires and pipelines. It was not so difficult to provide biosecurity at TPP-3. Since the reactor requiring isolation was located on a separate energy self-propelled vehicle, it was simply placed in a closed lead container, and during operation the operators did not approach this self-propelled vehicle.
In 1960, the mobile nuclear power plant was ready for operation. On October 13, 1961, the first experimental launch of the station took place. She showed herself well, the tests continued until 1965. But there was one problem. Neither industrialists nor scientists have been able to find any sensible application for the remarkable installation. Initially, it was designed to operate in the Far North, but traditional liquid fuel power plants turned out to be simpler and more economical. Economic inexpediency forced to close the project, and in 1969 TPP-3, which was never used anywhere, was mothballed.
At the same time, the development of the second mobile nuclear power plant, Pamir-630D, was underway. MAZ heavy equipment was used as a chassis. This station in many respects was more successful than TES-3, but its first experimental launch took place, unfortunately, in 1985, shortly before the Chernobyl tragedy. After the accident, most of the work in the nuclear direction was closed for one reason or another, and the promising Pamir was no exception.
Chapter 3. Ariel Atom (2010)
A whole eternity passed before the human imagination turned again to atomic cars. But this time, not engineers, but designers took over. Fortunately, today any self-respecting 3D artist considers it necessary to draw a couple of cars of the original design.
Singaporean designer Muhammad Imran was inspired by two cars. The first is the Ford Seattle-ite XXI, and the second is the Ariel Atom light-frame English sports car, produced by a small Somerset company. The sports car has a rather strange layout: it has no doors, no roof, luggage compartment; it is made on the basis of a rigid tubular exoskeleton and is equipped with a powerful 245-horsepower Honda engine. Due to the low mass Ariel Atom is able to accelerate to 100 km / h in a fantastic 2.8 seconds.
Ariel Atom by Singaporean designer Muhammad Imran is futuristic but impossible
Ariel Atom Muhammad Imran differs from both "prototypes". The designer tried to make his concept as compact as possible. In this regard, he placed the two passengers of the car not side by side, but one after the other, and the driver's legs reach almost to front bumper(naturally, from within). The isolated reactor, according to Muhammad's idea, should be located at the rear of the machine. Is it true, technical training Imran is somewhat embarrassed. For example, beautiful exhaust pipes in the form of a radiation hazard sign, they look spectacular, but why does a nuclear car need an exhaust system as such? In any case, the concept of the Singaporean will remain a beautiful concept, part of his portfolio.
Serial Ariel Atom is produced in Somerset and has nothing to do with atomic energy
But not everything is so sad. Because six months after Imran's sketches, the news flashed nuclear car, developed by a real group of scientists and quite possible in the conditions of modern technological development.
Chapter 4. Cadillac World Thorium Fuel (2011)
The specialists of a small company Laser Power Systems decided to go the right way: starting not from futuristic design, but from technological possibilities and practical tasks. First of all, they decided to abandon the uranium reactor, as a complex and excessively dangerous car for passengers. Thorium was chosen as an alternative.
In principle, thorium has repeatedly tried to use in the nuclear industry. Being less radioactive, it is quite capable of replacing the uranium and plutonium used today. In addition, thorium is much more common and therefore relatively cheap. True, the scheme of operation of thorium in a nuclear reactor is quite ingenious. First, the thorium-232 isotope must capture a thermal neutron and, through the reaction, turn into the uranium-233 isotope; the latter is directly involved in the reaction.
The layout of the Thorium repeats that invented by Ford engineers for the Nucleon concept.
What happens if we say that an excess of emissions harmful substances as a result of the combustion of gasoline or conventional diesel fuel can be solved using a nuclear engine? Will it impress you? If not, then you don’t even have to start reading this material, but for those who are interested in this topic, you are welcome, because we will talk about an atomic engine for a car that runs on the thorium-232 isotope.
Surprisingly, it is thorium-232 that has the longest half-life among thorium isotopes and is also the most abundant. After reflecting on this fact, scientists from the American company Laser Power Systems announced the possibility of constructing an engine that uses thorium as a fuel and, at the same time, is an absolutely real project today.
It has long been determined that thorium, when used as a fuel, has a strong position and, when “working,” releases an enormous amount of energy. According to scientists, only 8 grams of thorium-232 will allow the engine to work for 100 years, and 1 gram will produce more energy than 28 thousand liters of gasoline. Agree, this can not fail to impress.
According to CEO Laser Power Systems Charles Stevens, a team of specialists have already begun experiments using a large number of thorium, but the most immediate goal is to create the necessary technological process laser. Describing the working principle similar engine, we can cite the work of a classical power plant as an example. So, the laser, according to the plans of scientists, will heat a container with water, and the resulting steam will go to the work of mini-turbines.
However, no matter how breakthrough the statement of LPS specialists may seem, the very idea of \u200b\u200busing an atomic thorium engine is not new. In 2009, Lauren Culeusus showed the world community his vision of the future and demonstrated the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept Car. And despite its futuristic appearance, the main difference between the concept car was the presence of an energy source for battery life that used thorium as fuel.
“Scientists need to find a cheaper energy source than coal, with little or no carbon dioxide emissions when burned. Otherwise, this idea will not be able to develop at all ”- Robert Hargrave, a specialist in the field of studying the properties of thorium
At the moment, Laser Power Systems specialists have fully concentrated their efforts on creating a serial model of the engine for mass production. However, one of the most important questions does not disappear, how countries and companies lobbying for "oil" interests will react to such an innovation. Only time will tell the answer.
Interesting:
- Natural reserves of thorium exceed those of uranium by 3-4 times
- Experts call thorium and in particular thorium-232 "nuclear fuel of the future"
The first concept car has appeared that runs on virtually waste-free and environmentally friendly nuclear fuel. As conceived by the creators, the materials used and technical filling car will allow the owner not to worry about the repair of his "favorite" for 100 years, and this is with daily use!
As fuel, the development team used the weakly radioactive metal thorium (Thorium (Th)). For the first time the idea of using this element was expressed by American inventor Lawrence Kulesus in 2009 at the Chicago Auto Show. Well, the engineers at Laser Power Systems, led by inventor Charles Stevenson, were able not only to develop the concept of a nuclear engine, but also to successfully bring it to life. New concept was named Cadillac World Thorium Fuel (Cadillac WTF).
Thorium was first used during the Second World War, because it is considered the safest substance among other radioactive elements. According to scientists and developers, a gram of thorium will successfully replace about 30,000 liters of conventional fuel. Well, 8 grams is enough for the owner of the car for life. In addition, the excess energy released during the reaction is enough to recharge the battery and other devices.
Cadillac WTF is able to turn today's idea of cars upside down. task non-standard solutions that have found a place in the development of the concept car is the fight against environmental damage. Modern cars not only have a short service life, but also have a negative impact on the environment during production, operation and disposal. While the novelty from Cadillac is designed to work without refueling and repair for a whole century.
All concept systems also differ from traditional counterparts. The energy of thorium most effectively activates all internal programs, acting akin to the human nervous system. The main components of the car have an insurance function in case of an unforeseen breakdown, so that the Cadillac WTF continues to function without repair.
The concept car has 24 wheels, 6 on each side. Each of them is quite narrow and is equipped with a built-in induction electric motor. Such wheels will need to be adjusted every 5 years, without the need for replacement.
The very design of the Cadillac WTF is very flexible, the car is able to transform like muscles, making control intuitive. For example, the angle of the wheels changes depending on the road surface. The car's reactor was placed at the rear of the concept car for safety reasons.
If thorium proves to be a positive energy source, and the concept car becomes a reality, then Australia and India could become world leaders in the field of energy. About 30% of the deposits of this metal from all the deposits of the planet are located on the territory of these countries.
Technologies
The American company is going to release the world's first nuclear-powered car in the next two years.
According to director Laser Power Systems, Charles Stevens, just one gram of thorium is enough to replace more than 28,000 liters of oil.
For a car to work without refueling for a lifetime, it will need only 8 grams of thorium Stevens says.
Thorium
Laser Power Systems, headquartered in Connecticut, is currently working on a new engine that will use thorium, a heavy, weakly radioactive metal, to create electricity for motor.
This metal is used in the field of atomic energy, and also used in metallurgy. It is able to produce a huge amount of heat, being a dense material, similar to uranium.
Nuclear fuel
In one of the interviews, he explained the principle of operation: small particles of thorium were used to heat generation- a thorium laser was created and several similar lasers heated water for getting steam to activate series of mini turbines.
Stevens said that the engine, weighing approximately 227 kg, would be light and compact enough to fit under the hood of a normal car.
Yet, if everything were so simple, then oil products would have already sunk into oblivion. According to Stevens, the development of working compact turbines and generators is much more difficult than the creation of a thorium laser.
At this stage, a team of 40 workers led by Stevens is trying to answer the question of how to combine lasers, turbines and generators more efficiently. If the idea succeeds, then, in their opinion, cars with thorium engine will be able cover distances of millions of kilometers.
"The car will grow old before the engine. There will be neither oil products nor exhaust gases“Nothing,” Stevens says.
If thorium becomes the main source of energy, then Australia will become a global energy giant. According to the US Geological Survey, in Australia has the second largest thorium deposit in the world- about 333,690 tons (about 1/4 of all thorium reserves on the planet). In addition to Australia, a large amount of thorium is found in the United States and India.
Automobiles and nuclear energy
In the 1950s, Ford developed a concept car called Ford Nucleon. This nuclear-powered vehicle was designed, Ford said, on the assumption that future nuclear reactors would become smaller, safer, and lighter.
The design was based on an energy capsule that was located at the rear of the car. Ford assumed that charging stations will replace gas stations, and it will be possible to drive without recharging over 8,000 km.
Today one can wonder why nuclear-powered cars still do not drive around on the roads, because there are already nuclear-powered vehicles in the world. nuclear power plants, submarines and aircraft carriers. During the Cold War, the USSR and the US used small reactors to power satellites.
Scientists could create a miniature nuclear power plant and put it in a car. But it's not so simple.
Use of a nuclear powered vehicle
Maybe main reason, along which our streets are not clogged with cars with a nuclear engine, this radioactivity. Such cars would need appropriate protection, otherwise not only the driver, but also the surrounding people could suffer.
If you use all necessary protection , then the car would be incredibly heavy, perhaps even so much so that it would not be able to budge.
Also, such vehicles can be used in harm to people, for example, as a dangerous radioactive weapon.
In the end, energy companies, automakers and governments will have to work closely together to create the necessary infrastructure.
They will also have to establish a standardized process for disposing of a used energy product that still has hundreds of years will high level radiation.
