History Nuclear marine propulsion

1 history

1.1 military

1.1.1 background
1.1.2 submarines
1.1.3 aircraft carriers
1.1.4 destroyers , cruisers


1.2 merchant ships
1.3 icebreakers

history
military

by 1990 there more nuclear reactors powering ships (mostly military) there generating electric power in commercial power plants worldwide.

background

uss nautilus in new york harbor, 25 august 1958. nautilus had completed polar voyage under arctic ice. (photograph coutesy of united states navy).



the nuclear-propelled french submarine saphir returning toulon, home port, after mission héraclès.

under direction of u.s. navy captain (later admiral) hyman g. rickover, design, development , production of nuclear marine propulsion plants started in united states in 1940s. first prototype naval reactor constructed , tested @ naval reactor facility @ national reactor testing station in idaho (now called idaho national laboratory) in 1953.

submarines

the first nuclear submarine, uss nautilus (ssn-571), put sea in 1955 (ss traditional designation submarines, while ssn denoted first nuclear submarine).

the soviet union developed nuclear submarines. first types developed project 627, nato designated november class 2 water-cooled reactors, first of which, k-3 leninskiy komsomol, underway under nuclear power on july 4, 1958.

nuclear power revolutionized submarine, making true underwater vessel, rather submersible craft, stay underwater limited periods. gave submarine ability operate submerged @ high speeds, comparable of surface vessels, unlimited periods, dependent on endurance of crew. demonstrate uss triton first vessel execute submerged circumnavigation of earth (operation sandblast), doing in 1960.

nautilus, pressurized water reactor (pwr), led parallel development of other submarines unique liquid metal cooled (sodium) reactor in uss seawolf, or 2 reactors in triton, , skate-class submarines, powered single reactors, , cruiser, uss long beach, in 1961, powered 2 reactors.

by 1962 united states navy had 26 operational nuclear submarines , 30 under construction. nuclear power had revolutionized navy. united states shared technology united kingdom, while french, soviet, indian , chinese development proceeded separately.

after skate-class vessels, submarines powered series of standardized, single-reactor designs built westinghouse , general electric. rolls-royce plc built similar units royal navy submarines, developing modified version of own, pwr-2 (pressurized water reactor).

the largest nuclear submarines ever built 26,500 tonne russian typhoon class. smallest nuclear warships date 2,700 tonne french rubis-class attack submarines. navy operated unarmed nuclear submarine, nr-1 deep submergence craft, between 1969 , 2008, not combat vessel smallest nuclear powered submarine @ 400 tons.

aircraft carriers

enterprise, world s first nuclear-powered carrier (left) newest: french carrier charles de gaulle, 16 may 2001

united states , france have built nuclear aircraft carriers. sole french example charles de gaulle, commissioned in 2001.

the united states navy have broader experience. uss enterprise, in service 1962–2012, powered 8 reactor units, still aircraft carrier house more 2 nuclear reactors, each a2w reactor taking place of 1 of conventional boilers in earlier constructions.

recent vessels include nimitz , successor gerald r. ford classes.

destroyers , cruisers

the united states navy has examples of these vessels, utilising d2g , c1w reactors.

merchant ships

nuclear-powered, civil merchant ships have not developed beyond few experimental ships. us-built ns savannah, completed in 1962, demonstration of civil nuclear power , small , expensive operate economically merchant ship. design of compromise, being neither efficient freighter nor viable passenger liner. german-built otto hahn, cargo ship , research facility, sailed 650,000 nautical miles (1,200,000 km) on 126 voyages on 10 years without technical problems. however, proved expensive operate , converted diesel. japanese mutsu dogged technical , political problems. reactor had significant radiation leakage , fishermen protested against vessel s operation. of these 3 ships used low-enriched uranium. sevmorput, soviet , later russian lash carrier icebreaking capability, has operated on northern sea route since commissioned in 1988. of 2012, nuclear-powered merchant ship in service.

civilian nuclear ships suffer costs of specialized infrastructure. savannah expensive operate since vessel using specialized nuclear shore staff , servicing facility. larger fleet share fixed costs among more operating vessels, reducing operating costs.

recently there has been renewed interest in nuclear propulsion, , proposals have been drafted. example, cargo coaster new design nuclear cargo ship.

in november 2010 british maritime technology , lloyd s register embarked upon two-year study us-based hyperion power generation (now gen4 energy), , greek ship operator enterprises shipping , trading sa investigate practical maritime applications small modular reactors. research intended produce concept tanker-ship design, based on 70 mwt reactor such hyperion s. in response members interest in nuclear propulsion, lloyd s register has re-written rules nuclear ships, concern integration of reactor certified land-based regulator rest of ship. overall rationale of rule-making process assumes in contrast current marine industry practice designer/builder typically demonstrates compliance regulatory requirements, in future nuclear regulators wish ensure operator of nuclear plant demonstrates safety in operation, in addition safety through design , construction. nuclear ships responsibility of own countries, none involved in international trade. result of work in 2014 2 papers on commercial nuclear marine propulsion published lloyd s register , other members of consortium. these publications review past , recent work in area of marine nuclear propulsion , describe preliminary concept design study 155,000 dwt suezmax tanker based on conventional hull form alternative arrangements accommodating 70 mwt nuclear propulsion plant delivering 23.5 mw shaft power @ maximum continuous rating (average: 9.75 mw). gen4energy power module considered. small fast-neutron reactor using lead-bismuth eutectic cooling , able operate ten full-power years before refueling, , in service last 25-year operational life of vessel. conclude concept feasible, further maturity of nuclear technology , development , harmonisation of regulatory framework necessary before concept viable.

icebreakers

nuclear propulsion has proven both technically , economically feasible nuclear-powered icebreakers in soviet arctic. nuclear-fuelled ships operate years without refueling, , vessels have powerful engines, well-suited task of icebreaking.

the soviet icebreaker lenin world s first nuclear-powered surface vessel in 1959 , remained in service 30 years (new reactors fitted in 1970). led series of larger icebreakers, 23,500 ton arktika class of 6 vessels, launched beginning in 1975. these vessels have 2 reactors , used in deep arctic waters. ns arktika first surface vessel reach north pole.

for use in shallow waters such estuaries , rivers, shallow-draft, taymyr-class icebreakers being built in finland , fitted single-reactor, nuclear propulsion system in russia. built conform international safety standards nuclear vessels.