Could a tank or land vehicle be nuclear powered?

[Peaceful Civilian]

As Nuclear reactors can be made small and compact. Could a tank or land vehicle be nuclear powered?



The Cadillac World Thorium Fueled Concept car theoretically powered by an onboard nuclear reactor that uses thorium as its fuel.

As a design exercise to show what a vehicle capable of lasting 100 years without maintenance could look like, Cadillac debuted at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show its World Thorium Fueled concept car powered by nuclear energy. While the vehicle didn't contain a working thorium-fueled nuclear reactor, one researcher says that the technology is within our reach.
Charles Stevens, a researcher at the Massachusetts R&D firm Laser Power Systems, is creating a prototype of a thorium-powered laser that can be used to generate enough energy to power a vehicle while producing zero-emissions, according to an article in the Txchnologist . Rather than a small-scale thorium-powered nuclear reactor--as floated by the Cadillac concept--the prototype system Steve is designing uses a proprietary high-intensity "MaxFelaser" laser that is fueled by thorium.
According to the article, the MaxFelaser laser beam turns water into pressurized steam, spinning a turbine and generating electricity. The system can produce a total of 250 kilowatts (equivalent 335 horsepower), weighs about 500 pounds, and can fit under the hood of a car. That sounds great, but how realistic is this?
Thorium has been touted by several nuclear scientists, and some have given lectures at Google and TEDx promoting thorium as a better nuclear fuel source than uranium. Less radioactive and more plentiful than uranium, thorium is being tested by researchers in China as a potential fuel for nuclear reactors. Swapping uranium for thorium in a nuclear reactor is one thing, but putting a radioactive element in moving vehicles is another.
While small-scale thorium-powered nuclear reactors are theoretically possible, none have been designed that could fit in a car. Stevens' system uses a thorium-powered laser to turn water to steam, which could be used in a car. Although no photos or studies on the feasibility were provided in the article, Stevens told the Txnologist that he built the MaxFelaser in 1985, and is now working on integrating it with a modified Tesla turbine and generator that he fabricated.
Stevens hasn't set a date on when his prototype will be completed, but whether this technology will ever see the light of day is a valid question. Judging from his past online posts in forums and news sites , he's been touting this system for years despite his claim that auto manufacturers could have it working in vehicles within two years . And even if Stevens manages to pull off a thorium-powered car, it's likely to raise safety concerns.







Nuclear powered aircraft is already Grounded..

 

[Zabaniyah]

Soviet mobile nuclear plants:

Not many know, but Russian engineers have constructed the mobile nuclear power plants that were sucessfully used in distant parts of Russia. Those were small sized self moving fully functional atomic power plants with a small reactor inside. Just imagine, small nuclear power plants that could reach the destination points by themselves.
There were two basic models – tracked and on regular wheels.

More at: Russian Mobile Nuclear Power Plants | English Russia

Very little is known about this thing.

Is it possible to make a nuclear tank today? Even if it'd be technically possible, but it would be very expensive and potentially dangerous.

Oh well, we already use DU rounds

 

[acetophenol]

Possible i think.

 

[rockstarIN]

I read somewhere, in 1970s USA was experimenting Nuclear powered cars.

 

[Malik Usman]

It is absolutley possible and implemented............what you think how super computers and science laborataries work..........mostly they get power from nuclear batteries.........otherwise just imagine the scenario of Pakistan where 18 hours light is not coming........lolz.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Soviet mobile nuclear plants:

Is it possible to make a nuclear tank today? Even if it'd be technically possible, but it would be very expensive and potentially dangerous.

Oh well, we already use DU rounds

Nuclear tank or Nuclear vehicle,I think it would have been cheaper than the nuclear submarine. Nuclear submarine cost too much due to its very heavy size,weight and for multiple tasks . While Vehicle or Tank would have been very smaller than the submarines results atleast half the price of nuclear submarine.

 

[StandForInsaf]

Its possible but harm/danger is great if that vehicle got damaged or destroyed even by accident.

 

[RazPaK]

Maybe once the dangers of nuclear power are harnessed could this become a reality, but as of now it is just not pragmatic.

 

[T90TankGuy]

I read somewhere, in 1970s USA was experimenting Nuclear powered cars.

well i saw one in the back to the future series.

 

[Last Hope]

Yes it is possible, but only if a practical use is in forecast.

 

[third eye]

Nuclear fission / fusion produces heat which in turn is used to generate steam to run turbines / propellers depending on its application.

Theoretically this can be used for land vehicles however the limitations / risks need attention.

Unlike ships & aircraft carriers which are complete war machines within them selves land machines of war do not posses the same composite characterstics.

 

[VCheng]

Technically, of course it is possible, but it does not make economic sense at present.

If an atomic car can be developed that will run for a million miles without refueling, but overall costs a thousand times more than servicing and fueling a regular car, why would anyone build it?

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Technically, of course it is possible, but it does not make economic sense at present.

If an atomic car can be developed that will run for a million miles without refueling, but overall costs a thousand times more than servicing and fueling a regular car, why would anyone build it?

Same concept as your Can run a town off electricity from a nuclear powered submarine on town, similarly we can use this nuclear vehicle in space(moon) for electricity and other power projects on small area , Just think if this small nuclear vehicle is used at moon. How long it would enhance stay there. And then they will find more water at moon like this

But if this small Nuclear vehicle get blast on moon , then............................

Now back to earth.
Nuclear powered vehicle can move in mobile areas easily, and can be used for multiple purpose.Electricity on small towns
If you are War mad, once crossed the border, it will be on God Mercy, despite if destroyed by enemy,still there will be huge after
math.
Same nuclear Vehicle can be used both as ship or road vehicle.....................
Big advantage, It is mobile..... It Can move any place

 

[Uchiha]

How is it better than petrol? Because I'm pretty sure U23x or Plutonium costs more than C8H18
Pardon my ignorance, I might be wrong.
But think of it this way, even if it is cheaper to run- 1million$ nuclar car that goes 200km/l vs a 20,000$ car that goes 70km/l with both an average lifetime of say 500,000kms
1,000,000+500,000/200*(price of nuclear fuel)=
VS
20,000+500,000/70*(price of petrol)=

 

[Splurgenxs]

I dont think its feasible

Nuclear rectors do not produce enough energy in a specific period of time to be an alternative to any other combustion based fuel.
THo they can be used as charging units to charge electric cars---->and tht again leads to the question,

Y the hell we need it in a car when we can get the same nuclear energy via a nuclear plant 1000 miles away...just by connecting a power cable to an outlet?

There are better option like hydrogen fuel cells tht are almost perpetual in theory.