In the 1950s , perhaps the tallness of the so - call Atomic Age , Ford developed a conception machine called theFord Nucleon . Thisnuclear - poweredautomobile was designed , accord toFord , free-base on the presumptuousness that futurenuclear reactorswould be smaller , safer , faint and more portable [ Source : Ford ] . The design called for apower capsulelocated in the rear of the auto , charge place replace gas stations and 5,000 miles of driving before recharging or replacing the fuel . As is the case with manyconcept motorcar , Ford never build the Nucleon – only a model cable car half the size of a normal motorcar [ beginning : Ford ] .
Nuclear Power Image Gallery
It may seem like an out of the question quest , or something from a skill fable movie , but atomic - powered cars are deserving considering , especially with the ongoing energy andclimate crises . Given these challenges , some experts think that the use of atomic power , in various form , will make a comeback in the penny-pinching future . When done in good order , nuclear power is comparatively safe , sporting and affordable . So why not use it for railroad car ?
To get an idea , think of how countries have employed nuclear reactors for uses beyond traditional atomic power plant , submarinesandaircraft carriers . Some uses ofspecialized reactorsinclude furnish heating in exceedingly cold climates and seek to convert ember into fresh - glow gas . Both the former U.S.S.R. and the United States used small reactors to powersatellites , though the practice became controversial because of satellite ' propensity to fall back to Earth and break aside . These are examples ofresearch reactors , and they may offer scientists with some ideas of how to adapt atomic nuclear reactor for utilisation in other vehicle .
One such possibility isnuclear - fueled hydrogen– using atomic free energy to produce clean , safe , affordablehydrogen fuel . atomic reactors could also power post where motorists institutionalise highly efficientbatteries . Finally , scientists could create a miniature atomic business leader plant and stick it in a cable car .
On the next Sir Frederick Handley Page , we ’ll take a closer feeling at the welfare and explore some of the problems with a potential nuclear - power auto .
Pros and Cons of A Nuclear-Powered Car
There are some neat benefits to a nuclear - powered gondola . It would seldom need to be refuel – perhaps every three to five years [ reservoir : Stanford University ] . extremely enriched uranium is so potent that just one pound can power a hoagy or aircraft carrier . Even small amounts could conceivably power a car . accept the machine is adequately shielded ( a depicted object we ’ll discourse later on ) , the cable car would put out almost no discharge . And forget twist theignition : Your nuclear - powered car would be always on – although that think it would probably needbatteriesto store the energy always being produced by the miniplant .
Perhaps the main matter standing in the way of creating a nuclear - powered car is this : The baron origin isradioactive , so this vehicle would need lots of shielding . Without proper shielding , the radiation of the mogul rootage could kill people in and near the automobile , put a muffler on any commute .
Nuclear might flora and nuclear - powered aircraft carriers and subs all use heavy shielding . atomic superpower plants loosely have three layers of shielding in improver to thecontainment social organization , which is made of concrete several feet thick and houses the reactor . U.S. law want most reactors to have these layers of shielding and containment . administration - lock reactor are an elision , though the exact amount of shielding used on aircraft carriers and submarines remains classified .
With all of this shielding necessitate to protect against radioactivity , require your nuclear - powered car to be extremely heavy . Reproducing the shielding of a atomic reactor on an appropriate scale may make the motorcar practically fast . The shielding must also be resistant toearthquakesand other trauma and must be airtight so that line laden with radioactive atom ca n’t escape .
When someone mentions a nuclear - power railcar , the peril of radiation likely comes to mind . have radioactive material pronto available is a security measures and public health concern . While not all fuel used in nuclear reactors can be immediately used in anuclear bomb , even U that ’s not highly enriched could be used in a soiled bomb or other harmful radiological equipment . Our nuclear - powered gondola would have to be resistant from such tampering . Then there ’s also the motion of what happens in a car accident . Would the shielding stay intact , even in a catastrophic hit ?
Finally , energy companies , elevator car manufacturers and the government would require to collaborate to found the substructure and a similar process to dispose of exhausted fuel , which would be extremely radioactive for hundreds of age . Other problem link with atomic powerfulness include the inauguration costs and time ( up to 10 years ) for new plants . Then there is the fright of accidents and the need to safely dismantle old plants and dispose of spent fuel and waste . The rekindled interestingness in nuclear energy has also drive up the price of U . The logistics and costs of such an endeavor may prove prohibitive .
With all of these challenge in mind , atomic - powered cars likely rest far out of scope , at least made of today ’s engineering science . But for lots more entropy on other use of nuclear technology and the hereafter of automobile , search the links on the next page .
