Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:35:02 +0000 (UTC "Robert J. Chassell" wrote:
(snip) >Even better, Carlo Rubbia, a physicist, suggested building a thorium >reactor with an electrically operated neutron source such as that >provided by a linear accelerator or a not-very-good, but currently >buildable, hydrogen-fusion device. (snip) I had laid-on an older post wondering if a ThirdWorld Edison might not someday soon surprise us all. Certainly if this India/China Allience becomes something of stable substance, there might be a better shot at it. India's also one of the leading sellers of 5-10HP diesel engines. "Small is Beautiful" -E.F Schumacher http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060916303/002-1357197-3407244?v=glance >The fourth stage involves something that not only cannot be seen, >.......(snip) . >At the moment, quantum mechanics demonstrates itself in the tunnel >diodes used in communications and computers. But technologies >involving quantum mechanics are not used for large scale power >generation, whether quickly in an explosion, or slowly in a power >plant. ..And this is JUST where some ThirdWorld Edison might surprise us all! As for low-density energy sources: (snip) >A query: >Thermal electric generators use a third stage technology, a vacuum in >which electrons boil off a hot source and travel to a cool collector. >Yet they are hardly commonplace. >Is it more expensive to pump the necessary vaccuum for a one gigawatt >device, the electical output of a contemporary power station, than to >build a steam turbine and electric generator? If pumping the vacuum, >and keeping it, are expensive, then we see the costs of a first stage >technology. However, does the high vacuum needed by a thermal >electric generator require a second or third stage technology of some >sort? Is this the case? >Or is a thermal electric generator in effect a `low-density energy >source' that requires too much `boil off' surface area for economic >use? Probably a question for the Stuff-ology experts. The point I've heard about working with vacuums is not making them; but keeping them. Given access to the right materials, just about anything which can be engineered can be built to work. I'd say better to put that vacuum in the wall panels of peoples homes! Near-zero heat loss, oh yeah man...... I love the thought. Although.... folks probably wouldn't use 'em in the U.S. Look at StructurePanels (S.I.P.s), they've been around for 30 years and all around me is putting up stick-built homes (& not even Engineered Wood Product sticks!) LeonardJMatusik [EMAIL PROTECTED] Did you every read the one where an Eagle Scout candidate used Radium paint, Lithium Batteries and Aluminum foil to make a nuclear reactor in his backyard? http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~griffin2/scouts/rad_scout.htm I grew up about 10 miles from there. That was town where the geeks really knew how to party! -- _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l --------------------------------- Yahoo! for Good Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
