by Viktor PETRENKO, Dr. Sc. (Phys. & Math.), Pavel ALEXEYEV, Dr. Sc. (Phys. & Math.), National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia Such electron accelerators as betatrons, microtrons, synchrotrons, linear accelerators and the like are usually associated in our mind with physical experiments unlocking the riddles of the microworld and elementary particles. But these setups can be--and are being--used for practical purposes as well. They are quite cost-effective-say, in boosting the heat stability of cables or polymer pipes, and in sterilization of disposable medical syringes. True, their wide industrial uses (say, in cement production) may look exotic. But what if we look into the morrow? стр. 26 CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES For all the headway made in the information science, micro- and nanoelectronics and other trend-setting branches, conventional techniques used in obtaining building materials, power resources, metals and mineral fertilizer from natural raw materials will hold on for quite some time. Among technologies based on traditional energy carriers and fuels of greatest significance are those involving dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, leaching as well as decomposition of water, carbonates, sulphides, alumina and other substances. To get the end product one has to make use of heat-treating, chemical and metallurgical processes. They are indispensable to the production of cement, mineral fertilizer, aluminum, soda and other essentials. The source material is processed in heat-treating furnaces. Dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, such techniques remain essentially the same in this time and age, too. Their further efficacy is hampered by certain basic characteristics proper to conventional methods. First, unrenewable natural fuel has to be burned in huge amounts, as high as 40 percent of the raw material mass. Second, the heat treatment process has a very low efficiency factor equal to 25 percent on ... Читать далее