Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-25
a Atomic Energy Engines
Being Developed for Study
Airplans and Battleship Power Plants
Included; Problems Are Great
Bv Thomas r. Henry


Four atomic engines, each designed for .
different purpose. are being developed by the
Atomic Energy Commission.
One Is a "reactor'-entirely experimental
intended to explore some Of the seemingly
insuperable problems of an atomic airplans
motor
The second is reactor for use in pro-
pelling naval vessels. 1t is planned solely to
produce intense heat which can be con-
verted to propulsive power.
Third is breeder" designed TO explore
the problem of transmitting ordinary ura-
num- which is non fashionable. into pluto
mum. This is a necessary process in atomic
energy If any except the most limited form
ever Is to become economically sound.
The fourth. far more ambitious project,
Is designed to produce an appreciable
amount of electric power. 1t is also hoped
that 1t will act as a breeder.
Plane Engine Difficult.
With atomic power in practical quantities
still probably IS to 20 years in the future,
these are essential pioneer steps. says DR..
Lawrence r. Hafstead. director of the COM
missions reactor development.
The airplane engine development is by far
the most difficult and probably most i'm
portant DR.. Hafstead says. Success would
enormously enhance the value of the atomic
bomb itself. 1t is becoming increasingly evil
dent that the great weakness OF the bomb
as weapon lies in the difficulty of deliver
Ing 1t with present types of planes opposed
by better defenses of strategic points.
Any plane motor must be light The heavy
shielding against deadly radiations at pres
ent necessary are impossible. An essential
part of the program is to find some light
material which will stop the radiation and
at the same time retain its properties for a
long time. motor which became soft and
then brittle as chalk in few minutes OBJ
viously would be of no value.
Within the next two or three years, DR..
Hafstead says, 1t may be possible to deter
mine whether such motor is possible and
whether continued research is worthwhile.
Conversion Necessary.
Even If a suitable material is found.
scientists will be only on threshold OF the
problem. 1t still will be necessary to find
some way Of converting the energy which IL
generated into propulsive power.
The battleship engine problem is infinitely
simpler, but its solution still lies a long way
In the future. Here the weight of shielding
materials is not Of primary importance and
the conversion of the heat produced seems
we'll within the range Of possibilities. Enor-
mously difficult engineering problems are in
volved. however. and success within the next
few years Is hardly probable
Atomic energy is liberated only by rs
sionable atoms. The starting point must be
the fashionable isotope of uranium which
occurs in ordinary uranium in a ratio Of
one to 1879. Separation is a difficult and
expensive process. In special types of re-
actors. however, ordinary uranium can Do
converted to the synthetic element pluto
mum. The problem to solve is the conversion
to plutonium at the same time power is
being produced. In order to be economic
ally feasible any atomic energy process must
produce more fuel than 1t burns. If this
proves possible, DR.. Hafstead says it will
probably be possible to build up a stockpils
Of fuel for civilian use.
1t is far from clear at present. he points
out, whether there is such q possibility.