Re: New idea Laser launcher/scoop systems

["L. Parker" <lparker@destin.gulfnet.com>]

At 10:44 PM 3/12/96 -0500, you wrote:
>to: tim
>
>> To Kelly,
>
>> >Explorer classes engines is over 2,000,000 we don't get to go.
>
>
>The question was, can you get more thrust out of a pound of fusion fuel by
>using a reactor to convert it to electricity, and use the electricity to
>accelerate a reaction mass (ignoring engineering losses).  Or would
>converting the fuel to high speed plasma get you more thrust.
>
>> >Given that the energy in the fusion reactors was all
>> >turned into kinetic energy in the exaust plasma, I had assumed using it
>> >directly would be most efficent.
>
The problem does come down to engineering efficiency unfortuneately. Because
we can not yet, and are not likely in the foreseeable future to realize
performance efficiencies approaching unity (100%) then engineering is the
stumbling block.

Every time you cut another conversion process into the loop, I can almost
GAURANTEE that you will lose 30% to 50% of your efficiency. If you are only
starting out with 30 % on the first place....

Lee
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+  Weave a circle 'round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread...   +
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