Submarine reactors are typically capable of generating 25-50 MW. Russian submarines have 100’s of MW. With an enrichment level of 93-97%, modern naval reactors have a 20 to 30-year lifetime, with refueling every 10 years. New submarine reactor cores can last 30-40 years. Naval reactors use burnable poisons like boron and gadolinium.
The burnable poisons compensate for the build-up of neutron poisons by having a higher initial reactivity. These reactors require a compact pressure vessel and adequate shielding. Naval reactors have a lower thermal efficiency than land-based reactors due to the increased emphasis on flexible power operation and space constraints. The typical submarine reactor has an average power of 25% of full power. Reactors with a higher core power density can last longer for the same power output.
Submarine reactors have different power cyclograms which result in lower values for the fission product inventory.[^4] Nuclear submarines must continuously circulate coolant through the core. One advantage over land powerplants is that the reactor can use the ocean around it as a giant heat sink. The highly-enriched fuel is designed to overcome neutron poisons to avoid the reactor dead time in the event a restart is required.
[[Boron]]
[[Gadolinium]]
[[Surface Ship Reactors]]
[[Liquid Metal Reactors]]
[[Backscatter Radiation]] – consideration for submarine reactor
[[Naval Reactor Naming Conventions]]
[[Naval Reactor Fuel]]
[[Submarine Thermal Reactor]] – submarine thermal reactor
[[S1C Reactor]]
[[S5W Reactor]]
[[S6G Reactor]]
[[S6W Reactor]]
[[S9G Reactor]]
[[S1G Reactor]]
[[Seawolf Class Submarine]] – neutron-moderated reactor
[[S8G Reactor]] – ohio-class boats
[[S5G Reactor]]
[[S7G Reactor]]
[[US Submarine Reactor Decomissioning]]
[[Radionuclide]] – radionuclide inventory gives information about the reactor core
[[OK-150 VM-A]]
[[OK-700 VM-4]]
[[OK-350 VM-4]]
[[Second-Generation Reactor Model]]
[[Potential Submarine Reactor Accidents]]
[[Source Term]]
Submarine Reactor Thermal Model
Sources
- morrisonComparisonPumpjetsPropellers
- raghebNuclearNavalPropulsion2011
- hoibratenENVIRONMENTALRISKASSESSMENT2007
- _20752558[^4]
Backlinks:
High Enriched Uranium
Neutron Poison
Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Reactor Reactivity
Nuclear-Powered Submarines
Pressurized Water Reactors