Thorium in car engine

Scientists from the research company Laser Power Systems are working to create a new turbogenerator, which is driven by the so-called "thorium laser" ( MaxFelaser ), in fact it is not a laser, but simply a fuel assembly.

Thorium (Th) is a radioactive chemical element, the first member of the actinide family (atomic number 90, melting point 2028 ° K). The presence of a radioactive element in the heart of a car is a concept well-known from science-fiction works of 50 years ago: they almost unanimously painted the future of mankind at a mini-nuclear power plant, which will become “eternal” power sources for a wide variety of mobile devices, including cars. But here we have not science fiction, but almost a real commercial project.

The new turbine generator is based on a simple principle. Thorium generates heat that drives a car's turbine engine. Engineers have already made a sample of such an engine based on the Tesla turbine . On assurances of scientists, eight grams of thorium will be enough for 480 thousand kilometers of the car. Thus, after buying a car, you do not need to refuel it even once - one factory “charge” is enough for the entire service life.


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According to the inventor and founder of the company Laser Power Systems, the thorium engine will produce about 250 kW (335 hp), and the weight of the unit will be about 230 kg, which is quite acceptable for installation on modern passenger cars.

It should be noted that this is not the first attempt to use thorium as an automobile fuel. At the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, Cadillac showed the concept of World Thorium Fuel Concept (in the photo).



via Wards Auto