Thorium – nuclear-powered car

In the mid-twentieth century, in the wake of the introduction of nuclear power, it seemed that for this kind of energy – the future! It is cheap, it is practical and it is safe. And soon, even in vehicles nuclear energy to replace fossil fuels energy. This bold dreams never came true. And yet, attempts to create a nuclear-powered car from time to time occur. The latest example – a concept car Thorium.

Last year we told you about the concept of atomic car Ariel Atom, developed by designer Muhammad Imran. But that was a concept created by designer, but the car is being developed by scientists Thorium, namely by Laser Power Systems. First of all, in Laser Power Systems are considering the possibility of a nuclear reactor the size and power required to install them in cars and further normal, full operation of these machines.

During the study, researchers focused their attention on the chemical element thorium. This low-level radioactive metal was considered in the forties of the twentieth century as an alternative to uranium and plutonium for building nuclear reactors, but has not been taken into circulation because of the impossibility of using it for military purposes. In the Laser Power Systems also found that when trying to create a laser based on thorium, there is no directional beam of light, as it does in most lasers, and the strong heat waves. It is this effect and it was decided to use to develop the engine to the vehicle Thorium.

As considered in the Laser Power Systems, salt, based on one gram of thorium can replace the 7,500 liters of gasoline with high octane number, which would double bypass around the globe at the equator. And if mass production (in North India recently found a huge deposit of the metal), thorium will cost many times less uranium.

Moreover, the technology developed in the Laser Power Systems, is already working well, and not just exist on paper. It remains only to establish a secure car engine based on this technology and test it.