Fast Breeders by Peter Bursztyn Certain types of reactors are called “fast breeders”. These use plutonium 239 (239Pu) as a primary fuel. They then add 238U rods into the core, or surround it with a “blanket” of 238U. (The plutonium
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission by Peter Bursztyn Atomic power was “predicted” by Albert Einstein in his 1905 paper on the Theory of Relativity. This postulated that mass and energy are related to each other. This relationship is described by the world’s best
Nulear Energy General
Nuclear Energy In a nuclear power plant nothing “burns”, although fuel (uranium or plutonium) is consumed. Nuclear reactors are thermal (“thermonuclear”) power plants where heat is used to raise steam to drive a turbine. The heat comes from a nuclear
Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid The plug-in hybrid has some of the capability of the electric car, but retains the long range of hydrocarbon fuel for longer journeys. The battery of a plug-in hybrid is much larger. A conventional hybrid is capable of
Imitation Hybrids
Imitation Hybrids Renault has fitted out a small car with an automatic stop/start feature. When the vehicle is stationary, the engine stops running just like a hybrid. When the clutch is depressed and the car is in gear, the
Electric
Why Don’t We Have All-Electric Cars? Electric cars are attractive from a cost point of view. An electric motor is far cheaper to make than a gasoline engine. It has few moving parts and experiences very little wear. Electric
Diesel Hybrids
Diesel Hybrids The hybrid trains and busses described above are diesel powered – as are nearly all commercial vehicles. This is simply because compression ignition (diesel) engines are the most efficient internal combustion engines available, and also have an
Complication and Cost
Complication and Cost There are two problems with the hybrid concept: complication and cost. Ford’s Escape Hybrid has a 4-cylinder engine instead of a six. However, this does not begin to cover the extra cost of the storage battery, electric
Series Hybrid
Series Hybrids Some European municipal busses have been designed as hybrids. One full-sized model uses a small 2litre diesel producing around 100 horsepower. (A conventional bus has 200-300bhp.) This engine is not connected to the drive wheels. It simply powers
Cellulosic Ethanol
Cellulosic Ethanol by Peter Bursztyn Cellulosic ethanol is just ethanol. Instead of coming from the fermentation of starch and sugar, it originates from cellulose. This is the stiff material which makes corn and wheat stalks stand erect, and the major