Nuclear Powered Train
editHistory
editThe concept of nuclear powered trains first surfaced seriously in 1950s when the idea became an official technical goal of the Ministry of Transport of the USSR.[1] The Ministry then said such locomotives could operate autonomously, without electricity or large amount of fuel, for use in the High North and remote areas of Siberia.[2] The talk of nuclear powered trains were very real and encouraging. The idea seemed reasonable at the time because the dangers of nuclear reactors were not widely known.[1]
Principle of operation
editThe locomotive carries a small portable nuclear reactor that heats a fluid to boiling and passes it through electric turbine engines to produce electric power. The fluid/steam then recirculates through cooling radiators condensing it back to liquid before it passes back into the reactors again. This electric power would be used to power and cool the electromagnets, which help the train go.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Sanders, Christian (March 20, 2015). "Nuclear Powered Trains". stanford.edu.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Nilsen, Thomas (February 24, 2011). "Russia designs nuclear train". barentsobserver.com.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)