GINEERING CHEMISTRY ERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETI W A L T E R J. M U R P H Y , EDITOR
T h e Future Direction of Atomic Research
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HARLES A. THOMAS, in bis address, “NonIn Dr. Thomas’ opinion, the cost of nuclear power rmhtary ‘. Uses of Atomic Energy”, delivered may decrease in the years ahead, while the cost of coal before the general meeting of the CAN CHEMICAL power may increase materially. He also foresees a SOCIETY in Chicago last month, performed a notable greater decentralization of industry made possible by service by debunking many of the sensational and inthe erection of nuclear power plants in certain isolated accurate statements which have given the American areas where the cost of oil, gas, or coal is prohibitive public an entirely erroneous impression of what may and where suitable supplies of water are unavailable. be expected in practical developments during the next Nuclear power plants offer distinct possibilities as decade or two. stand-by plants. An evaluation of these and other The layman is intrigued witb the possibilities of advantages inherent in the use of Wmic energy as powering his automobile for an h o s t indefinite period the source of large-scale power roduction makes it with an infinitesimally small quantity of plutonium. seem unlikely that coal and petrogum will be relegated He is greatly impressed with what he believes to be to the “has been” class for many, many years to wme. the wonders of science when he is told that giant liners Dr. Thomas also reports enwuraging advances will be driven across the o c e m at higb speed by during the past year in our knowledge of the radicenergy derived from cbanaes in atomic nuclei. The active properties of the gamma rays emitted in nuclear layman’s hope for the elhination of many of the reactions. Nevertheless, at the present time all that diseases, such as cancer, which take a tremendous can be said with certainty is that in small amounts the annual toll, has been raised to a new level of expece rays have promising therapeutic properties. Isotope ancy. These and other rash promises of things to carbon 14 particularly is expected to provide special wme out of the laboratories of America working on impetus to the study of all organic reactions and peacetime uses of atomic energy must be evaluated processes and will serve as an important tool in tracing carefully and in a strictly scientific manner. As sciencomplicated reactions in the human body. As in the tists, we must not permit the public to confuse realities field of power, developments in the medical and i n d w with the highly imaginative dreams of creators of trial utilization of radioactive isotopes will come rather superwmic strips. slowly and an impatient and uninformed public will be Dr. Thomas statement that the first development disappointed when American research does not gain id atomic power will probably be along conventional atomic Utopia overnight. lines was not unexpected by those who are actually Soberly reflecting on the future developments of researching in this field and understand both the nonmilitary uses of atomic energy and with full appretechnical prcblems and the economics involved. The ciation of the diEculties and disappointments which one difference naturally is the substitution of a chainlie ahead, one is forced to wnclude that millions of reaction pile for the furnace or hoiler. As presently dollars must be invested in opening up this entirely new visualized, a cooling fluid will flow through the pile to and revolutionary field. Obviously, most of this money ick up the heat produced by the chain reaction. must wme from vernment source8 and the American %e heat transfer medium, whatever it may be, will public must be X c a t e d to the necessity of providing be radioactive. Therefore, it will be necessary to these funds on a continuing basis regardless of the employ a secondary boiler in which water or gas icks tangible results achieved, particularly in the years up the heat from the primary beat-transfer fluid. directly ahead. Adequate appropriations are but one If water is u& it will be converted to bigh-temperaof the several essential elements for success. The ture steam, whi& will not be radioactive and can be number of individuals who are qualified to conduct used without danger in the conventional turbine. It research in the field of nuclear energy and in the will be necessary, of course, to wnstrnct thick barriers biological, medicinal, and industrial applications of as a protective measure against the dangerous rays nuclear fission is at the moment wholly insu5,cient. emitted during the chain reaction. Years of training and skill of the highest order are reThe public in general is not concerned with the quired. An immediate solution to the problem of the details of the design and operating technique required international wntrol of atomic energy would release to make large-scale atomic energy power possible and many highly skilled research workers for articipation feasible. It is iuterestd in the economics of conin the guest for nonmilitary nses. Dr. &omas’ conventional fuels versus atomic energy. Without going cluding sentence, “let us prepare to live better, better into the detailed figures quoted by Dr. Thomas, it than to die miserably”, is a challenge to both our is obvious that, for the present and probably for political and scientific acumen. many years to come, atomic power will not supplant Dr. T L m d maodas anide, in whioh d - m baa besn made in tbim but rather will supplement present conventional power sditnid, rill bsfovod on page21(10 of C h i m l o n d Eaginrrnn. N m lo= pnduction. S e p b k 25.19(6
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