Re: GAS-L: biomass gasification for hydrogen production - future potential

[LINVENT@aol.com]

Dear nuclear interests,
    Tokamak is still being worked on at Princeton also. Irradiation of the 
metals at 10^10neutrons/cm^2 will turn the best metal into Swiss cheese in no 
time. Internal generation of radon and other gaseous radionuclides. Intensely 
radioactive after a short exposure. Replacing the reactor weekly doesn't make 
a lot of sense. Vanadium is the only metal which can stand the levels and is 
used as cladding for fuel rods in light water reactors. Inertial confinement 
or cold fusion have better chances of succeeding. Inertial confinement has 
come closer to breakeven, I believe here in Albuquerque at Sandia National 
Laboratories. 
    Magnetohydrodanamic generation (MHD) can be used in either plasmas if you 
can keep the electrodes from vaporizing or quenching the reaction (another 
problem to be solved in plasma controlled thermonuclear fusion) or will work 
in liquids. The French had a MHD system using liquid bismuth recirculation 
which was steam powered to circulate the bismuth. Very clever, 45% overall 
conversion efficiency, no moving solid parts. 
    I have seen a cold fusion reactor operating in a retired Los Alamos 
chemist's basement and saw the results of more energy out than in (about 
15%). It works, but has limitations, the pressure of the reaction collapses 
the metal structure which stops the reaction. This may be difficult to cure, 
but is less onerous than fixing all of the problems with plasma fusion 
reactions. Research is still being done at Los Alamos but not on the books. 
The French have taken Fleischmann and Pons and are supporting their work. 
Says something about the US. 
    Don't hold your breath about controlled thermonuclear fusion. It has been 
decades in development and has serious barriers to success. 

    

Sincerely,
Leland T. Taylor
 President
 Thermogenics Inc. 
7100-2nd St. NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107 
phone 505-344-4846 fax 505-344-6090
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