I uploaded a new edition of "Cold Fusion and the Future." There are
only a few changes. Mainly I corrected mistakes and added some new
paragraphs and footnotes. In chapter 2, section 1, I substantiated
some claims about plutonium 238, with an interesting footnote:
[TEXT] Although the RTG itself is benign and reasonably safe to
handle, the plutonium-238 isotope is so rare and difficult to
separate out it costs millions of dollars per kilogram, and this
relatively benign isotope has to be separated from tons of other
plutonium and uranium, which are extremely dangerous. *
* [FOOTNOTE] Estimates of the cost range from about $1 million to $10
million per kilogram. The U.S. DoE is constructing a new plant to
separate out 238Pu. This will cost $1.5 billion, and over the life of
the plant it will produce 150 kg of 238Pu, as well as 50,000 drums of
hazardous nuclear waste. Source: Broad, W., U.S. Has Plans To Again
Make Own Plutonium, in New York Times. 2005.
Chapter 2, section 2 has a paragraph about micro-turbines and
Stirling engines. It occurred to me after reading about Stirling
Energy Corp. gadgets that these would make ideal first-generation
electric generators with cold fusion. Although they have moving
parts, they are sealed and they require little maintenance.
Eventually I expect they will be replaced with thermoelectric
devices, but in the first stages I think something like this would be
a good choice. If cold fusion emerges, Stirling Energy Corp. will
soon lose all of its business making solar thermal generator forms,
but if they are smart they will quickly make even more money
supplying cold fusion powered versions. They already make fossil
fuel-fired gensets based on the gadget.
- Jed
- New edition of "Cold Fusion and the Future" Jed Rothwell
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