Convair NB-36H, the nuclear electric plane!

[Christophe]

The nuclear electric plane almost existed.

Well it's not really in the transport of the future (but rather the prototypes of the past) but it's mind-blowing ... if so daring!

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_NB-36H

Convair NB-36H The Crusader
Atomic-powered Experimental Aircraft
(X-6 Prototype)
Length: 49.38m
Wing Span: 70.1m
Hight: 14.26m
Wing Area: 443.3 Square Meter
All-Up Weight: 163,293Kg
Empty Weight: 102,058Kg
Engine:
Flat & Whittney R-4360-53 (3,800hp) X 6
General Electric J47 Turbojet (2,360Kg)
Max Speed: 628Km / h
Ceiling service: 12,200m
Crew: 5

Convair X-6
Atomic-powered Experimental Aircraft
Length: 49.38m
Wing Span: 70.1m
Hight: 14.26m
Wing Area: 443.3 Square Meter
All-Up Weight: 163,293Kg
Engine:
Flat & Whittney R-4360-53 (3,800hp) X 6
General Electric X40 Turbojet X4
Max Speed: 628Km / h
Ceiling service: 12,200m
Crew: 5

[renaud67]

Vicking probes were carrying mini nuclear generators (in the early 80s)

[Christophe]

Yes but they were intended to "go" ... without return ...

Good recess at launch there are risks (some have exploded)

But the amount of fissile material had to be less than on the plane ... unless for the latter they reloaded the fuel rod at each stopover (which would greatly surprise me) ...

By way of comparison, a nuclear submarine can operate for several years on its fuel ...

"Nuclear propulsion gives it unprecedented autonomy (several weeks of immersion and up to 140 kilometers at 'cruising' speed)."

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nautilus_%28SSN-571%29

[Leo Maximus]

Most space probes use a plutonium thermoelectric generator, this was already the case with Pioneer probes from the 60s (before Viking therefore), solar energy being insufficient for the needs of the probe in electricity:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9n%C ... dioisotope

[Christophe]

Exactly, I discovered this trick last week in I don't know what topic, the very poor thermo efficiency (less than 7% according to wiki) is compensated by the large amount of heat and the "reduced" needs. .and almost flawless reliability (no rotating parts) ...

Security [edit]

Isotope generators do not work like nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plants create energy from a chain reaction in which the nuclear fission of an atom releases neutrons, which in turn cause other atoms to fission. This reaction, if not controlled, can quickly grow exponentially and cause serious accidents, especially when the reactor melts.

Inside an isotope generator, only the natural radiation of the radioactive material is used, that is to say without chain reaction, which a priori excludes any catastrophic scenario. Fuel is in fact consumed slowly, this produces less energy but this production takes place over a long period.

Even if the risk of major disaster is almost zero, we are not immune to radioactive contamination: if the launch of a space probe fails at low altitude, there is a risk of localized contamination, everything as in the upper atmosphere, disintegration of the probe could lead to the dissemination of radioactive particles. There have been several accidents of this type, including three (the American satellite Transit 5BN-3 and two Russian probes including the Cosmos 2 mission) which led to the release of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. In the other cases, no contamination could be detected, and some isotope generators were recovered intact, having resisted the fall back into the atmosphere.[3].

[Flytox]

Even if the risk of major disaster is almost zero, we are not immune to radioactive contamination: if the launch of a space probe fails at low altitude, there is a risk of localized contamination, everything as in the upper atmosphere, disintegration of the probe could lead to the dissemination of radioactive particles. There have been several accidents of this type, including three (the American satellite Transit 5BN-3 and two Russian probes including the Cosmos 2 mission) which led to the release of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. In the other cases, no contamination could be detected, and some isotope generators were recovered intact, having withstood the fall into the atmosphere[3].

You just have to believe......

[Capt_Maloche]

Day,

and how do you create electricity from radioactive radiation?

[Christophe]

Ben Maloche?

It is the thermoelectric effect quite simply, it is the thermal radiation which is used, not radioactive, explanation here: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9n%C ... dioisotope

By cons in this video here (which will please you): https://www.econologie.com/forums/le-nucleai ... 10675.html the engineer talks about convert electrons into heat?

I imagine that it is something other than the joule effect ...

[Christophe]

Another (draft) nuclear plane from Convair ... but this one never flew:

Convair NX-2 1959 (USA). Nuclear bomber (Project).

Convair_NX-2.jpg (72.36 KB) Viewed 7883 times

For the purposes of the nuclear bomber program, Convair proposed a duck type design under the internal designation Model 54. The centerpiece of the Model 54 was to be three XNJ140E nuclear turbojets installed in the rear fuselage for cruising flight, while two classic J 75 turbojet engines were located under the wings to assist in takeoff and landing. Weighing 260 tonnes, the bomber was slightly smaller than the supersonic proposals of the first phase of the WS-125A competition. The Model 54 would eventually win the initial development contract, leading to numerous large-scale trials. Unfortunately, although the bomber did well in 1960 in the scale wind tunnel tests, it will not see the end of the year.
At the end of 1960, the program was canceled following a change of doctrine going towards ballistic missiles and in January 1961, the Secretary of Defense McNamara definitively canceled all the projects of nuclear planes for reasons of cost and environmental risks in the event of accidents.

[Christophe]

He has some videos on the Convair NB-36H:

There's even a discorvey channel report: