This forum is in permanent archive mode. Our new active community can be found here.

The Power of Thor(ium)

edited August 2011 in Science
http://wardsauto.com/ar/thorium_power_car_110811/

Sounds too good to be true, so probably is.

Comments

  • So basically it stores latent heat from a laser. So instead of a battery to store energy (electricity), it's using Thorium to store energy (heat).

    As I read it, the issue is converting that heat into electricity via a steam turbine.

    On the bright side we could be headed to a steam punk era of cars!
  • Do we still not have a better way to turn heat into energy than steam and a turbine?
  • Do we still not have a better way to turn heat into energy than steam and a turbine?
    That would be a golden goose.

    Better would be turning radiation directly into electricity.
  • Nope! Most forms of electricity generation revolves around heat.

    However we have fuel cells which covert gases into electricity. Gotta love the redox (oxidation and reduction)!
  • Better would be turning radiation directly into electricity.
    Solar Panels, thermoelectric devices.
  • Better would be turning radiation directly into electricity.
    Solar Panels, thermoelectric devices.
    Don't forget Radio Thermoelectric Generators like what's powering the Cassini probe in Saturn's orbit right now (along with the Voyagers, the old Viking Mars landers, and many more space probes).
  • Gotta love that wave-particle duality.
Sign In or Register to comment.