From: Horkheimer (hork_at_execpc.com)
Date: 04/18/98
Message-ID: <353944DA.21CD387C@execpc.com> Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 19:27:07 -0500 From: Horkheimer <hork_at_execpc.com> Subject: Re: Been kinda quiet, lately...
Hello,
> -An atomic reactor is also an excellent power
> -source, as
> -helium is the by-product of a fission reaction, power and lifting gas from
> -one source.
> Actually, I think helium is the by-product of FUSION reactions,
> which are difficult to sustain, still not economical, and once again,
> heavy.
I agree, but if an alpha particle slows down and it will and picks up two
electrons I believe it will then become a helium atom, but I don't know of the
material damage alpha particles can cause on structures, but it can't be to bad
since you can stop these particles with a sheet of paper. Plus if water is used
as a coolant, the fission reaction will split the water and leave you with
hydrogen. But I must warn everyone that these reactions will hardly produce
significant amounts of hydrogen or helium, it would just be better to take the
power produced and split the water the old fashion way. The equipment to collect
these gases would probably make doing this prohibitive.
> But using solar cells to run hydrolysis on water gives you oodles
> of hydrogen for fuel cell use, or lifting gas (with 4x more lift than
> helium). There's just that combustion problem... Still, probably less of an
> engineering problem than flying an atomic reactor. :-)
Sincerely,
Donald Horkheimer