Nuclear Powered Aircraft
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Nuclear Powered Aircraft
Hey Guys,
I'm wondering how long it will be until we have nuclear powered aircraft flying around especially with global fossel fules rapidly on the decline.
Nuclear powered aircraft that have a nuclear power pack & run electric engines. Could also have the exterior of the aircraft coated with ever so thin solar panes if additional power needed.
Suppose we have flown aircraft around the world for a long time now carrying nuclear bombs & missiles on them, run nuclear powered submarines, ships & aircraft carriers so maybe the next step is aircraft that are nuclear powered.
Would have to make sure that the nuclear power pack on the aircraft is in stronger casing than Flight Data recorders so that it can withstand very high G-force impacts & fires & so on without leaking radiation if the aircrat were to crash.
Chock Chucker
I'm wondering how long it will be until we have nuclear powered aircraft flying around especially with global fossel fules rapidly on the decline.
Nuclear powered aircraft that have a nuclear power pack & run electric engines. Could also have the exterior of the aircraft coated with ever so thin solar panes if additional power needed.
Suppose we have flown aircraft around the world for a long time now carrying nuclear bombs & missiles on them, run nuclear powered submarines, ships & aircraft carriers so maybe the next step is aircraft that are nuclear powered.
Would have to make sure that the nuclear power pack on the aircraft is in stronger casing than Flight Data recorders so that it can withstand very high G-force impacts & fires & so on without leaking radiation if the aircrat were to crash.
Chock Chucker
Last edited by Chock Chucker; 24th Apr 2013 at 07:04.
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Never... the technology of shielding just isn't going to happen and the energy transfer rate for a gas generator from nuclear reactors isn't that great. Only one aircraft has ever flown with a nuclear reactor onboard (A B36) and that didn't actually produce any usable power for the aircraft..
BTW this thread belongs in Air Blast.. IMHO.
BTW this thread belongs in Air Blast.. IMHO.
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The term "nuclear powered" has always been slightly misunderstood by a large number of people, including some surprisingly intelligent/educated ones. I once worked with someone who genuinely believed that nuclear submarines were powered by "nuclear engines".
Nuclear submarines are, of course, powered by good old-fashioned steam turbines. The "nuclear" bit is a reactor which supplies (almost) unlimited quantities of heat which, in this case, is used to provide super-heated steam to spin the turbines and, through gearing, the submarines propeller.
Now if we can make a reactor small and light enough to fit into an aircraft - it's already been done for some satellites - then we have a heat source but what are we going to use for propulsion?
Nuclear submarines are, of course, powered by good old-fashioned steam turbines. The "nuclear" bit is a reactor which supplies (almost) unlimited quantities of heat which, in this case, is used to provide super-heated steam to spin the turbines and, through gearing, the submarines propeller.
Now if we can make a reactor small and light enough to fit into an aircraft - it's already been done for some satellites - then we have a heat source but what are we going to use for propulsion?
Last edited by Saint Jack; 24th Apr 2013 at 07:50.
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Hey thanks for your reply's
All sounds good if they have already made one nuclear powered aircraft in the past & have also made nuclear powered satelites.
The steam could be used to power an electric generator which can then supply power to the aircraft electric engines.
or
The steam could power steam engines fitted on the wings of the aircraft. Not sure if that would be possible but maybe.
Chock Chucker
All sounds good if they have already made one nuclear powered aircraft in the past & have also made nuclear powered satelites.
The steam could be used to power an electric generator which can then supply power to the aircraft electric engines.
or
The steam could power steam engines fitted on the wings of the aircraft. Not sure if that would be possible but maybe.
Chock Chucker
