Not that there is anything wrong with international scientific cooperation; but the whole MHD project, in which the US supplies high technology in low-risk, small-scale development, while the Russians incorporate these vital components in bold, large-scale projects, is illustrative of the American retreat from technological leadership. It was a US Air Force C-5 Galaxy, the world's largest aircraft, that airlifted the 40-ton magnet from Illinois to Moscow; but that plane was built in another era, before adventurous quest had begun to give way to riskless stagnation.
Two years ago, Dr Arthur Kantrowitz, father of the American MHD effort, spoke on "MHD in a Time of Timidity" (Congr. Record, 18 Nov. 1977, p.E-7041): "The energy economy of the US has always depended on vigorous and courageous technological adventures... We brought oil, uranium, thorium, maybe some day we will bring deuterium, into view as new fuels. In a time of timidity where the country doesn't do anything new, it is inevitable we will run out of everything. Although in a time of timidity you will commit few mistakes, you will omit the spirit of adventure that is essential to survival."
The Soviets, meanwhile, are forging ahead¾above all with nuclear power, including breeders, but also with MHD (using natural gas rather than coal).
They are also using MHD for geological prospecting. By sending pulses of electric current (40,000 amperes) through a horizontal loop enclosing a large area (1 square kilometer or more) and observing the magnetic field at a distance, one can infer the location of magnetic ore down to several miles below the surface. The Russians have built several models of MHD generators for this purpose; in 1976 they used the (conducting) sea water along the shores of two peninsulas in the White Sea as part of the loop, enclosing about 2,000 square miles. The MHD generators supplying the high-powered pulses are mounted on heavy-duty trailers pulled by tractors; it is claimed that no more than 100 kg (220 lbs) of coal dust fuel is needed to sound out 4,000 square miles in one measurement session.
[More: "MHD target: payoff by 2000" by E. Levi, IEEE Spectrum, May 1979; "USSR starts building first commercial size MHD plant," Electrical Review (England), 17 Aug. 1979; "MHD generators probe the earth" by E. Streltsova, Technika i vooruzhenyie, June 1979 (in Russian only).]
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Vol. 7, No. 3
Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive Volume: Volume 7 Issue/No.: Vol. 7, No. 3 Date: November 01, 1979 02:52 PM Title: Hairshirts or energy?
Copyright © 2004 - Access to Energy Newsletter Archive
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