Mark Elliott Mark Elliott

The Flux Capacitor and How does it work ?

The Flux Capacitor - What does it do ? How does it work ? Here we explain the theory behind Doc Browns Back to the Future invention

The Flux Capacitor is one of the central pieces of equipment in the DeLorean Time Machine which is what makes time travel possible.

In Theory :

This is essentially a storage device for the huge amount of power 1.21 gigawatts (1,210,000,000 watts) of power, once 88mph is reached power is channelled through three glowing rods. This forces microwaves to flow in one direction meeting in the centre.

A newly developed Flux Capacitor (not for time travel though) uses Quantum tubes of magnetic flux moving around a central capacitor by a process known as Quantum Tunnelling, This creates a brace of wormholes accelerating at different velocities relative to each other.

The Flux Capacitor

As featured in ‘Back to the Future’ a device imagined by Doc Brown when he was standing on the edge of his toilet, slipped and hit his head on the sink, when he came to had a revelation of the Flux Capacitor

The Flux Capacitor

The Flux Capacitor

The Flux Capacitor is one of the central pieces of equipment in the DeLorean Time Machine which is what makes time travel possible.

In Theory :

This is essentially a storage device for the huge amount of power 1.21 gigawatts (1,210,000,000 watts) of power, once 88mph is reached power is channelled through three glowing rods. This forces microwaves to flow in one direction meeting in the centre.

A newly developed Flux Capacitor (not for time travel though) uses Quantum tubes of magnetic flux moving around a central capacitor by a process known as Quantum Tunnelling, This creates a brace of wormholes accelerating at different velocities relative to each other.

Flux Capacitor - Back to the Future

Flux Capacitor - Back to the Future

1.21 Gigawatts of energy would be released from the Flux Capacitor through the Flux Bands (mounted on the outside of the DeLorean). This would allow for the transition through the wormhole to happen at 88mph, the wormhole would have to be created by the Delorean harnessing two black holes, entangle them, and then separate them again. Except this involves ties between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. (See our ‘Is Time Travel possible’ blog)

The Back to the Future A-Car (the DeLorean used for close up filming) Flux Capacitor consisted of 3 high pressure gas relays connected to Glass Vacuum tubes.

In this particular theory the space-time continuum is shown to be essentially spherical. The Flux bands allowing the traveller to enter the wormhole in one location in space, but emerge from it in a new location which is exactly the same in space, but entirely different in time. So you travel through time, but remain in the same relative place.

Of course this is far more complex than we have described here, but again see our blog ' Is Time Travel Possible' for more detailed explanation.

The short version is that nothing really stays in place, the world is constantly moving through space, so even a slight displacement in time would be extremely difficult to link up exactly with a particular point in space.

Marty McFly with the Flux Capacitor

Marty McFly with the Flux Capacitor

DeLorean Power ?

The Delorean runs on regular gas (petrol unleaded) to power its 2.8 v6 Peugeot Renault Volvo (PRV) ZMJ-159 engine. But the Time Machine conversion runs on something little more potent ….

Can a DeLorean go 88 mph? Yes it can it can :

In U.S Spec - 130 BHP - 0.60 in 9.6 Seconds - Top Speed 122 mph

In European Spec - 150 BHP - 0.60 in 8.5 Seconds - Top Speed 129 mph

One of the key problems for the flux capacitor is energy. Even theoretically, the amount of power needed to create a wormhole (as yet, still only a concept rather than a reality) is barely conceivable.

In the film, it’s defined as 1.21 gigawatts (pronounced ‘jigawatts’ in the film). That’s an awful lot of watts, the kind you can only get from a plutonium-powered nuclear reactor, or a couple of seriously huge gas turbines or, say, a bolt of lightning !

So try to explain how much power this is the nuclear power reactors in a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier produce 194 megawatts (1.94 x 10-8 watts)

But here we are talking about a Bolt of Lighting which is 300 million volts, and 30,000 amps. For comparison a household current is 240 Volts (120volts for USA) and 16 Amps. And a bolt of lighting is 5 x 10⌃9 Joules perfect for Doc Browns Delorean Time Machine

Giga is a prefix for units that typically means 10⌃9 This means 1.21 gigawatts would be 1.12 x 10⌃9 watts

What other mode of transport requires this colossal amount of power ? Try the S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier at 317 gigawatts

S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier

S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier

The Reactor

So how could that work? Let’s get technical for a second. If the reactor uses (for example) Plutonium-239 (dangerously radioactive by the way), then each atom of the stuff could theoretically produce 200MeV (mega electron volts) during the fission process, equivalent to 3.2×10⌃11 joules of energy. With each Plutonium-239 atom having a mass of 3.29×10-25kg, you would only need a fuel mass of 1.2×10-5kg, which could conceivably fit in the boot of a DeLorean.

So long as it didn’t explode, and 1.21 gigawatts is all the power you needed, then you could conceivably power a time-travelling car.

Then all you’d have to worry about are the complexities of relativity, space-time paradoxes and the impossibility of altering the future by changing history to make time travel by DeLorean a reality.

The DeLorean Time Machine

The DeLorean Time Machine

Follow our Hashtags …..

#backtothefuture #martymcfly #delorean #bttf #s #docbrown #michaeljfox #dmc #deloreantimemachine #timemachine #christopherlloyd #fluxcapacitor #hillvalley #outatime #timetravel #mcfly #movie #hoverboard #movies #deloreandmc #greatscott #backintime #art #backtothefuturetrilogy #bifftannen #bhfyp #timemachine #mcfly #marty #docbrown #greatscott #fluxcapacitor #christopherlloyd #backtothefuture2 #backtothefuture1 #backtothefuture3 #dmc12 #deloreantimemachine #deloreandmc12 #BTTF #bttf1 #bttf2 #bttf3 #time #timecircuits #docbrown #1980s #popculture #props #flux #fluxbands #glow #giggawatts #jiggawatts #1.21 #power #mrfusion

To find out more fun Future Facts by clicking our Blogs below……….!!! Please Share …..

Ghostbuster - Ecto 1

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/3/31/ghostbusters-ecto-1

Cars of Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/10/the-cars-of-back-to-the-future-55-

Back to the Future Fashion

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/19/back-to-the-future-fashion-te2yx

Ariel Leader

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/17/ariel-leader

Back to the Future - Hill Valley History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history-jxrr4

Back to the Future Gadgets and Trends we have in 2021

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/10/34-back-to-the-future-gadgets-and-trends

Doc Browns Biography and the History of his DeLorean Time Machine

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/26/doc-browns-biography-amp-history-of-the-time-machine

Marty McFly Biography also featuring Biff, George, Jennifer, Loranine

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/biography-marty-mcfly-michael-j-fox-biff-george-jennifer-loranine

Back to the Future - Hill Valley History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history

Back to the Future - Detailed storyline

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/24/back-to-the-future-detailed-storyline-

Back to the Future - How to generate 1.21 Giggawatts / Jiggawatts with Mr Fusion

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/25/great-scott-how-to-generate-121-giggawatts-jiggawatts-mr-fusion-

What is a Fat Bike ? And where did the idea of Fat Bikes come from ?

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/10/fat-bike-what-is-a-fat-bike-history

The Time Paradox explained - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/16/time-paradox-explained-back-to-the-future

The Sinclair C5

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/9/sinclair-c5-

Mini Jeep Mini Review

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/minicoolsterjeepreview

Hoverboards - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/12/13/hoverboards-

How does the Time Machine work - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/how-does-the-time-machine-work

The DeLorean Motor Company - What did it fail ? Or did it ?

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/whydiddeloreanmotorcompanyfail

The DeLorean Motor Company - History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/deloreanmotorcompany

The Flux Capacitor - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/fluxcapacitor

Is Time Travel Possible ? And what would it take ? Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/istimetravelpossible

www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk

Read More
Mark Elliott Mark Elliott

The Time Machine

How does the Time Machine work in Back to the Future ? What did Doc Brown fit to the DeLorean to allow it to Time Travel ? ….. Here we explain the science behind this amazing Stainless Steel Sports car the DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future

How does Doc Browns DeLorean work ? and what equipment did he install ?

It’s very difficult to summarise exactly how all the systems work together / in conjunction with each other. And how individual components work without a extremely long description,

so we have broken this up into 3 sections.

Section 1 list of the components - Section 2 Pictorial overview - Section 3 Long list view.… Warning this subject is Heavy  !

DeLorean Time Machine - The A Car

DeLorean Time Machine - The A Car

Section 1 -

 The Nuclear Reactor consists of :

Steam Turbines -Reactor Power Coils - Reactor Coil enclosures - Reactor cooling vents – Reactor Temperature Control - Reactor Power control - Reactor coolant pump - Reactor Pump control - Coolant Return - Reactor Core cooling - Cooling Ring  - Reactor Coil exterior - Cooling system control unit - Cooling system Capacitors - Automuffers (suppressed release valves) - Radiation Scrubber Vent - Heat Exchanger Vent - Cooling System Control Unit -Emergency Coolant Tanks - Ceramic separator & conductive spring - Lower reactor coil assembly - Coil Assembly plate - Vacuum Capacitors chamber - 5mw vacuum capacitors - Battery Cell cores - Primary coil in vacuum chamber - Particle accelerator canisters (PAC) - PAC Power Coils  - Particle Holding Tank Pre-Heater - Oxygen Supply - Steam feed tube for turbines - Coolant purge tubes - Medium pressure boilers - High pressure boilers

 External components consists of :

Temporal Field igniters and flux boxes  - Temporal field stabilizers AKA Flux Bands - Mole Richardson power cables - Tachyon pulse generator - Tachyon pulse generator for temporal displacement system -Field ignition coils - Control Circuits - Pulse generators - X Ray Tubes - Surge protector - Power input high voltage - HV Clamps - Booster Coils - Shielded spark gap chamber - Load resistor - Argon-gas Filled tubes - Cathode with spark generator with protective shield – Annode


DeLorean Time Machine Sandstone Productions

DeLorean Time Machine Sandstone Productions

Flux Capacitor consists of :

Flux Capacitor Exhaust duct - Heat Exchanger Shield - Signal Amplifier / Driver –Temporal Field Gyroscope with Anti-Vibration Mount- Coolant Pump - Heat Exchanger - Particle collider blades - Collision Synchronizers -Geiger-Muller tube (radiation detector) - Tachyon Pulse generator control connected via Canon 32 - Exhaust elbow to external exhaust duct - Time Circuits control - Flux Capacitor coolant

 External components consist of :

Nuclear reactor components - Reactor Core - Reactor outer housing - Freon injection nozzles & expansion chamber - Radiation Scrubber - Radiation scrubber vent - Removable spent – Plutonium canister (lead lined) – Generators - Coolant inlet - Steam turbines - Steam exhaust & recycling tubes

(to radiation scrubber) - Coolant purge tubes - Steam Separators - Pressure Equalizer - Turbine Coolant -Primary Equalizer -Turbine Coolant - Primary Hydraulic Hoses - Coolant Return - Pump Control Wires - Steam Release - Hydraulic vent control A - Coolant Reclamation - Flow Control - Steam Separators coolant - Power cables to PAC Coils - Hydraulic Vent control Hose B

 Cabin Atmosphere & Fire Suppression

Atmosphere control Regulator - Fire Suppression Bottle - Air Quality & Temperature sensors (canon 30) - Oxygen Supply - Regulated oxygen to torin blower - Torin Blower - Regulated nitrogen to torin blower

 Overhead Array

System Indicators Primary - System Indicators Secondary - Power Distribution - Grimes Emergency pull light (Removable)

 Cabin Equipment

Time Circuits control junction -Time Circuits warm up relays - Reactor thermal control unit - Torin corporation blower - Flux Capacitor Cabin Atmosphere & Fire Control - Pulse control module - Field containment system display

 Dashboard

Signal amplifiers - Digital speedometer - Bulova Alarm clock - Analog – Speedometer - Time Circuits display - TRW Data systems keypad - Coustic EI AM/FM Cassette radio - Rowan Contactors -Airguide auto Compass - Time circuits display components  - Time Circuits Display enclosure - Destination Time Display - TRW Data System keypad - Power regulator PCB Heat sink - Time Circuits switch console - Time Circuits Time Circuits computer -Y Handle power switch - Dialco indicator lights ( System on / off ) - Primary Frequency control - DMC Switches - Clare electroseal constant power supply - Motor Run capacitors - High Voltage transformer - Sprague Capacitors - Manual Component control - Manual Emergency coolant release - Rentgens meter panel - Time circuits control cables

Section 2 -

DeLorean Time Machine Sandstone Productions

DeLorean Time Machine Sandstone Productions

How the DeLorean Time Machine Works

How the DeLorean Time Machine Works

The DeLorean Time Machine - How does it work ?

The DeLorean Time Machine - How does it work ?

The DeLorean Time Machine How it works

The DeLorean Time Machine How it works

DeLorean Time Machine Sandstone Productions

DeLorean Time Machine Sandstone Productions

Section 3 -

Nuclear Reactor

Steam Turbines

Reactor Power Coils

Reactor cooling vents

Reactor Temperature Control

Reactor Power control

Reactor coolant pump

Reactor Pump control

Coolant Return

Cooling system control unit

Cooling system Capacitors

Automuffers (suppressed release valves

Radiation Scrubber Vent

Heat Exchanger Vent

Cooling System Control Unit

Emergency Coolant Tanks

Particle accelerator canisters (PAC)

PAC Power Coils

Particle Holding Tank Pre-Heater

Oxygen Supply

 

Flux Capacitor

Flux Capacitor Exhaust duct

Heat Exchanger Shield

Signal Amplifier / Driver

Temporal Field Gyroscope with Anti-Vibration Mount

Coolant Pump

Heat Exchanger



FLUX system

Particle collider blades

Collision Synchronizers

Geiger-Muller tube (radiation detector)

Tachyon Pulse generator control (Canon 32)

Exhaust elbow to external exhaust duct

Time Circuits control

Flux Capacitor coolant

Steam Separators

Pressure Equalizer

Turbine Coolant

Primary Equalizer

Turbine Coolant

Primary Hydraulic Hoses

Coolant Return

Pump Control Wires

Steam Release

Hydraulic vent control A

Coolant Reclamation

Flow Control

Steam Separators coolant

Power cables to PAC Coils

Hydraulic Vent control Hose B

 

Cabin Atmosphere & Fire Suppression

Atmosphere control Regulator

Fire Suppression Bottle

Air Quality & Temperature sensors (canon 30)

Oxygen Supply

Regulated oxygen to torin blower

Torin Blower

Regulated nitrogen to torin blower

Overhead Array

System Indicators Primary

System Indicators Secondary

Power Distribution

Grimes Emergency pull light (Removable)

 

Cabin Equipment

Time Circuits control junction

Time Circuits warm up relays

Reactor thermal control unit

Torin corporation blower

Flux Capacitor

Cabin Atmosphere & Fire Control

Pulse control module

Field containment system display

 

Dashboard

Signal amplifiers

Digital speedometer

Bulova Alarm clock

Analog

Speedometer

Time Circuits display

TRW Data systems keypad

Coustic EI AM/FM Cassette radio

Rowan Contactors

Airguide auto Compass

Time circuits display components

Time Circuits Display enclosure

Destination Time Display

TRW Data System keypad

Power regulator PCB Heat sink

Time Circuits switch console

Time Circuits Time Circuits computer

Y Handle power switch

Dialco indicator lights ( System on / off)

Primary Frequency control

DMC Switches

Clare electroseal constant power supply

Motor Run capacitors

High Voltage transformer

Sprague Capacitors

Manual Component control

Manual Emergency coolant release

Rentgens meter panel

Time circuits control cables

 

External Components

Nuclear reactor components

Reactor Core

Reactor outer housing

Freon injection nozzles & expansion chamber

Radiation Scrubber

Radiation scrubber vent

Removable spent – Plutonium canister (lead lined)

Generators

Coolant inlet

Steam turbines

Steam exhaust & recycling tubes (to radiation scrubber)

Coolant purge tubes

Coolant purge tubes

Steam feed tube for turbines

Medium pressure boilers

High pressure boilers

Reactor Core cooling

Cooling Ring

Reactor Coil exterior

Reactor Coil enclosures

Reactor coils

Ceramic separator & conductive spring

Lower reactor coil assembly

Coil Assembly plate

Vacuum Capacitors chamber

5mw vacuum capacitors

Battery Cell cores

Primary coil in vacuum chamber

 

External

Temporal Field igniters and flux boxes

Temporal field stabilizers AKA Flux Bands

Mole Richardson power cables

Tachyon pulse generator

Tachyon pulse generator for temporal displacement system

Flux Band components

Field ignition coils

Control Circuits

Pulse generators

X Ray Tubes

Surge protector

Power input high voltage

HV Clamps

Booster Coils

Shielded spark gap chamber

Load resistor

Argon-gas Filled tubes

Cathode with spark generator with protective shield

Annode


Follow our Hashtags …..

#backtothefuture #martymcfly #delorean #bttf #s #docbrown #michaeljfox #dmc #deloreantimemachine #timemachine #christopherlloyd #fluxcapacitor #hillvalley #outatime #timetravel #mcfly #movie #hoverboard #movies #deloreandmc #greatscott #backintime #art #backtothefuturetrilogy #bifftannen #bhfyp #timemachine #mcfly #marty #docbrown #greatscott #fluxcapacitor #christopherlloyd #backtothefuture2 #backtothefuture1 #backtothefuture3 #dmc12 #deloreantimemachine #deloreandmc12 #BTTF #bttf1 #bttf2 #bttf3 #time #timecircuits #docbrown #1980s #popculture #props #flux #fluxbands #glow #giggawatts #jiggawatts #1.21 #power #mrfusion #howitworks #howthetimemachineworks #timemachinecomponents



To find out more fun Future Facts by clicking our Blogs below……….!!! Please Share …..

Ghostbuster - Ecto 1

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/3/31/ghostbusters-ecto-1

Cars of Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/10/the-cars-of-back-to-the-future-55-

Back to the Future Fashion

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/19/back-to-the-future-fashion-te2yx

Ariel Leader

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/17/ariel-leader

Back to the Future - Hill Valley History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history-jxrr4

Back to the Future Gadgets and Trends we have in 2021

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/10/34-back-to-the-future-gadgets-and-trends

Doc Browns Biography and the History of his DeLorean Time Machine

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/26/doc-browns-biography-amp-history-of-the-time-machine

Marty McFly Biography also featuring Biff, George, Jennifer, Loranine

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/biography-marty-mcfly-michael-j-fox-biff-george-jennifer-loranine

Back to the Future - Hill Valley History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history

Back to the Future - Detailed storyline

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/24/back-to-the-future-detailed-storyline-

Back to the Future - How to generate 1.21 Giggawatts / Jiggawatts with Mr Fusion

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/25/great-scott-how-to-generate-121-giggawatts-jiggawatts-mr-fusion-

What is a Fat Bike ? And where did the idea of Fat Bikes come from ?

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/10/fat-bike-what-is-a-fat-bike-history

The Time Paradox explained - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/16/time-paradox-explained-back-to-the-future

The Sinclair C5

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/9/sinclair-c5-

Mini Jeep Mini Review

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/minicoolsterjeepreview

Hoverboards - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/12/13/hoverboards-

How does the Time Machine work - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/how-does-the-time-machine-work

The DeLorean Motor Company - What did it fail ? Or did it ?

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/whydiddeloreanmotorcompanyfail

The DeLorean Motor Company - History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2020/11/22/deloreanmotorcompany

The Flux Capacitor - Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/fluxcapacitor

Is Time Travel Possible ? And what would it take ? Back to the Future

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/istimetravelpossible

Read More