Thorium

[woods]

U.S. Researcher Preparing Prototype Cars Powered by Heavy-Metal Thorium



From the story in the link below:



“…1 gm of thorium equals the energy of 7,500 gallons of gasoline…using just 8 gm of thorium in a car should mean it would never need refueling.”

“This car will run for a million miles. The car will wear out before the engine. There is no oil, no emissions – nothing.”

“Natural thorium has little radioactivity…What isotopes there are could be blocked by aluminum foil...”



http://wardsauto.com/ar/thorium_power_car_110811/

How long before everyone involved in this dies from "suicides" or "natural causes"?

[fordman]

aluminum foil. oh yeah. the wonder blocker.

[woods]

I don't think they were planning on blocking it with that, only that it would.

[tmcalavy]

wonder blocker and wonder material for hats...keeps the alien rays at bay.

[fireguywtc]

You can hold natural thorium in you hand. The only ill effects would happen if you ingest it. I like the idea and hope it becomes more popular. It would be neat to watch and see if the technology developes. I think the main problem would be cost effectiveness. Thanks for sharing.

[Ranchero50]

The guy makes all the right noises but nothing comes out... He doesn't say how much energy is takes to get the laser to maintain, nor anything about the turbine accesories. Lets see, theoreticly fire a laser at a ceramic plate with a water jacket. Increase the water temp to 300` to get 100 psi of pressure in the vessel, then turn a turbine / generator capable of 250 MW (mega watts?) connect that to an electric motor driving the wheels. How much steam volume do you need to generate 250MW? That will tell you how big of a boiler and laser you'll need to drive the car. we don't know that but we know that it'll fit in a box when iut's finally figured out...

Sadly the article is just a bunch of thin air, no real substance in it so I suspect the guy if full of himself. Perpetual motion machine anyone?

Jamie

[fordman]

they could block it with that. it is a wreck that would bother me. what happens to the stuff and engine when the car gets wrecked. they would have to provide protection from it.

[woods]

You can hold natural thorium in you hand. The only ill effects would happen if you ingest it. I like the idea and hope it becomes more popular. It would be neat to watch and see if the technology developes. I think the main problem would be cost effectiveness. Thanks for sharing.

You can't eat it? I'm out.

[woods]

they could block it with that. it is a wreck that would bother me. what happens to the stuff and engine when the car gets wrecked. they would have to provide protection from it.

You mean it's like riding on top of a metal tank full of explosive liquid?

[woods]

The guy makes all the right noises but nothing comes out... He doesn't say how much energy is takes to get the laser to maintain, nor anything about the turbine accesories. Lets see, theoreticly fire a laser at a ceramic plate with a water jacket. Increase the water temp to 300` to get 100 psi of pressure in the vessel, then turn a turbine / generator capable of 250 MW (mega watts?) connect that to an electric motor driving the wheels. How much steam volume do you need to generate 250MW? That will tell you how big of a boiler and laser you'll need to drive the car. we don't know that but we know that it'll fit in a box when iut's finally figured out...

Sadly the article is just a bunch of thin air, no real substance in it so I suspect the guy if full of himself. Perpetual motion machine anyone?

Jamie

Something like this perhaps for the turbine.
http://www.cyclonepower.com/comparison.html

[fordman]

ah ha. i knew i had heard thorium G someplace before. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yfXgu37iyI

[woods]

That's it, I'm throwing away all my parachute pants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkJdaU92Ln8

[cdeal28078]

I would probably be blocked by aluminum foil easily enough. Some radiation like Alpha and Beta Rays are blocked by a couple layers of dead skin if I remember my Health Physics which it has been a while I'll admit. It is the Gamma rays that shot through you causing the damage.
I think it sounds great until he says the only use for crude will be plastics and asphalts. Tells me right there it'll never get to market in our life times. Not with all the big oil companies out there. Call me a conspiracy nut if you want but if it jeopardizes their bottom dollar they will get rid of it somehow.
How did GM heat the steam for their Firebird Turbine car back in the 60's or was it even steam powered?
clint

[cdeal28078]

That's it, I'm throwing away all my parachute pants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkJdaU92Ln8

I don't think I believe that. There would be way too much resistance in the length of wire for a static spark from nylon pants to go that distance and still cause a spark at the end in my opinion.
I do think nylon clothes at a gas station could cause a spark at the pump handle and cause a fire though
clint

[fitzwell]

The guy makes all the right noises but nothing comes out... He doesn't say how much energy is takes to get the laser to maintain, nor anything about the turbine accesories. Lets see, theoreticly fire a laser at a ceramic plate with a water jacket. Increase the water temp to 300` to get 100 psi of pressure in the vessel, then turn a turbine / generator capable of 250 MW (mega watts?) connect that to an electric motor driving the wheels. How much steam volume do you need to generate 250MW? That will tell you how big of a boiler and laser you'll need to drive the car. we don't know that but we know that it'll fit in a box when iut's finally figured out...

Sadly the article is just a bunch of thin air, no real substance in it so I suspect the guy if full of himself. Perpetual motion machine anyone?

Jamie

Why am i hearing Doc, from "Back to the Future"??????