Re: How the MPV drivetrain works.

["Gary Gore" <ggore@mail.transdata.ca>]

----------
> From: Bill Garmer <bgarmer@tsc.net>
> To: Mailinglist 'MP' <MP@nostromo.gate.net>
> Subject: Re: How the MPV drivetrain works.
> Date: Monday, March 10, 1997 5:36 PM
> 
> I ran some numbers just for the hell of it and here is what I got:
> 
> For the fusion pack to deliever 20000kW (20MW) for 18 months it must have
a
> power capacity of 9.5*10^14 Watt-seconds (J).  Assuming a 100% efficience
> system, this would require the conversion of about 0.0105 kg of matter. 
I
> have asked around a little and don't have a solid answer from efficiency
> but it may be around 10% (if anyone has a source for an answer let me
> know).  Using that, the fuel requirement is much (very much) less than 1
> liter.
> 

So then you are saying that 20,000 Kw power plants are feasiable if you can
get the Fusion process right?


> >
> >This is the conversion I had with my father on Sunday.  They maybe more
> >maintance prone, but are much easier to use as engines.  All that has to
be
> >done with DC to make it varaible is just adjust the voltage across the
> >armature.  But I look through the book again he gave me and see what
they
> >have to say about maintance on these guys.
> 
> Easier to use - I assume easier to control the speed.  That is true but
> there are ways around this problem.  The big maintance issue is usually
the
> brushes but there are some high-tech solutions becoming available for the
> bigger motors.
> 

If you design the electric motors correctly, anyone in the project can user
replace the brushes when the time comes, or for that matter any part that
the MP design teams find that will need replacing under normal wear and
tear.

> >Isn't that the numbers from the TM1-1 book for the pack and plant?  I
> >thought they where high myself, but I may have read the number wrong. 
The
> >number you gave me helps out emmesly.
> 
> Probably are but they are not for the vehicle power plants.  I thought
> these were powerplant the project kept around for the rebuilding.  For
> example to power a small town while they fix the regular powerplant.
> 

This is wear the grey area begins in the book.  "All such vehicles are
modified to make use of the Project's fusion packs"  Does this mean the
20,000Kw Fusion Pack or is there some other Fusion Pack not described for
vehicle use only?  Anyone have ideas here?

> >I was beginning to become concerned that no one was commenting on how I
> >wrote this up.  But I guessed that this was beyond what people wanted to
> >know or they just didn't have any background in this area, or I might
have
> >had something that might be workable..
> 
> I have to decide whether I am going to review more paperwork or read the
MP
> list.  Unfortunately the desire to eat and see the company I own a part
of
> succeed win over reading and commenting on everything on the list.  So I
> usually try to comment only on thing that I have good knowledge on or an
> ideal for.
> 

Feed back greatly appricated in this case.

> >Wait till I write up the internal comm, system for the MPVs.  This
should
> >be so far out of peoples concerns I should have no one comment on it all
:)
> 
> IC is easy - ring it out for the complete communication package (that
will
> be hard) <g>.  One problem will be that, except in Desert Search, they
> never gave IC equipment (or head protection for that matter) to the
crews.
> No headsets - no helmets - no nothing.  I guess we are expected to
believe
> that the vehicle crew and passengers rode around the country side very
> carefully so that nobody banged their head.
> 

Thats what I hope to have done by the weekend.  From that Janes Mil. Comms
book I sent you the photocopies from on radios, they list some of the
vehicle IC usnits.  So i think I can create a good working one from this. 
But will search the web and see if I can find more on them.

-----------
Gary..
ggore@mail.transdata.ca
http://www.transdata.ca/~ggore/morrow.htm