This week’s Economist nicely presents the current status of global nuclear power development.
The Generation IV International Forum (GIF, a consortium of 10+ countries) has drawn up plans for six new reactor designs. From these six, they will whittle down to the design that becomes the standard for the fourth generation of nuclear power plants. These six designs range from merely updated designs to entirely new types of fuels and coolants.
Let’s face it — engineers see a lot of numbers in their everyday jobs. While generally comfortable with math and numbers, I doubt many of us take the time to actually visualize what those numbers actually mean.
The speed of light is a great example. Every engineer knows that it’s 299,792,486 m/s^2. In more common (for us Americans) terms, it’s about 186,000 miles per second. But how fast is that, exactly?
Well, the moon is a good example. While really close to Earth in astronomical units, it would be a pretty long walk to reach there, if such a journey were possible. But humans have been to the moon and around the far side. It’s as far as we’ve ever managed to travel in one journey. So how far is it, in relation to the speed of light?
Above is how a basic info graphic explaining how a railgun works. Below is the General Atomic’s new Blitzer Railgun’s test apparatus.
While not as huge as some of the vacuum tube-based mainframes of the 1940’s, it was still pretty damn large for an accounting calculator.
Here are some still-shots of the revolutionary machine:
The image above is a simple betavoltaic graphic from medgadget. It shows the beta particles creating an electric field over a pn-junction diode, biasing the device, which thereby causes conduction.
It has been some time since betavoltaic batteries have been used. Lithium Ion has been the battery of choice for awhile, probably because it isn’t, you know, radioactive. Widetronix is looking to change that with its Tritium-based, navy-funded technology. By using more efficient semiconductor materials, they have revamped the self-charging betavoltaic battery.
These tiny power sources are said to last for 25 years! Of course, this technology only works for devices that require minimal amounts of current draw (think pacemakers and small sensors).
Check this VentureBeat article for more on these tiny batteries.
We’ve been posting some “green” pictures recently here at Industrial Interface. So, in keeping with theme, check out these amazing pictures of Taiwan National Stadium. The entire roof is covered in at least 8,844 solar panels! In addition to powering 75% of the stadium’s energy needs when in use, it also contributes to the local power grid during times of stadium inactivity.
Here are some photos courtesy of Gizmodo:
Here is yet another company of the future with their version of the flying car. Always fun to see the real world designs for these.
“Terrafugia has completed flight testing of the Transition POC (Proof of Concept). Introducing the Transition. Simply land at the airport, fold your wings up and drive home.”
Follow Industrial Interface
info@industrialinterface.com
P: 858.633.8158
F: 866.393.6775
625 Broadway, Suite 909
San Diego, CA, 92101
All text and design is copyright ©2006-2010 Industrial Interface, Inc. All rights reserved.
Next-Generation Nuclear Power