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To: Raymond Duray who wrote (35198)	6/20/2003 4:39:05 AM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74559

What was the problem with nitrogen cooling? Insulation or what? The raw material is not exactly scarce, so that can't have been the problem. Mqurice

To: Raymond Duray who wrote (35198)	7/26/2003 11:32:30 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Re superconductor levitated and propelled, electronically controlled, individual passenger [and goods] transport, the problem is really in the insulation rather than the cooling. There's not exactly a shortage of nitrogen. Nor is it especially expensive to liquefy it. The cost is in avoiding too much evaporation to maintain superconducting temperatures. Contrary to popular rumour in this stream, N2 does a fine job of cooling some superconductors to superconducting temperature. The other big cost is that of the superconductors [not to mention engineering the whole idea]. No moving parts, other than the vehicles, is very attractive. Imagine how quiet it would be. Just a zephyr of breeze as they slip through the air. But, being inside partial-vacuum tubes, they'd be soundless. And safe. China isn't going to be limited by industrial revolution resources. Brainpower and civilization are our main limitations and that applies to China too. With 1 billion kilograms of brainpower, of which a significant proportion is turbocharged, there aren't a lot of problems they couldn't solve. Superconducting levitation for transport should be a doddle. Engine noise, exhaust and safety are major issues in modern life. It'll be quite a change when movement is silent. Segways for zipping around locally, then into the supercar to really go places. Mqurice