![]() ![]() Without a properly functioning heat exchanger, a nuclear submarine could not convert the reactor’s heat into energy that turns into steam. Why are heat exchangers critical in nuclear submarines? The reactor engineers follow strict safety procedures and must wear radiation monitors that are checked regularly to ensure they are not exposed to radiation. The crew on the submarine must be shielded for safety, and crew are prohibited from accessing the reactor during operation. The turbines also make electricity for the submarine, and as the steam cools and condenses back into the water, the water is directed back through the system, and the process starts again.Īs with all forms of nuclear power, the engine releases radiation. The heat creates steam in the heat exchanger, which is fed into a turbine, which turns a generator to produce electricity. Onboard nuclear reactors power a nuclear submarine, and the atoms in the nuclear reactor split, releasing energy as heat. ![]() It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982 and now lives at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut, receiving about 250,000 visitors annually. In March 1980, the USS Nautilus was decommissioned, and the reactor equipment was removed. The Nautilus travelled almost 500,000 miles in its 25 years lifespan. In August 1958, it accomplished the first voyage under the geographic North Pole. The USS Nautilus broke numerous submarine travel records in its early years of service. achieved the highest sustained submerged speed recorded for over one hour.set a new record for a submarine’s most extended submerged cruise, travelling 1,381 miles in 89.8 hours.During the route to Puerto Rico, the Nautilus: On May 10 th 1955, the Nautilus set off for shakedown, travelling south after receiving preliminary acceptance by the Navy. However, on January 17 th 1955, the submarine began operating on nuclear power and underwent sea trials. As a result, they developed the fundamental reactor plant design, which was used in the Nautilus.Īfter being commissioned on September 30 th 1954, the Nautilus underwent further construction and testing while docked. ![]() The Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, which Westinghouse operated, was tasked with designing a nuclear power plant for a submarine on the 31st of December 1947. The Nautilus was powered by the Submarine Thermal Reactor, later redesignated as the S2W reactor, a pressurised water reactor produced for the US Navy by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. On the 12th of December 1951, the US Navy announced that the submarine would be called Nautilus. The US Congress authorised the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine for the US Navy in July 1951, which was planned and supervised by Captain Hyman G. In March 1950, the initial design phase of the world’s first nuclear submarine began as project SCB 64. Crews had to start stocking much more food for these longer journeys! Design and development For example, the nuclear reactor allows a submarine to operate at high speed for a long time. Nuclear submarines offer many other significant advantages over conventional submarines. This made the USS Nautilus the ideal candidate to undertake “Operation Sunshine”, a trip to the north pole that President Eisenhower ordered to demonstrate the potential of the soon-to-come military technology of “submarine-launched ballistic missiles” (SLBMs). First nuclear submarine – USS Nautilus – Courtesy Argonne National Laboratory A nuclear submarine was a different beast: it could stay underwater for 2 weeks. Wilkinson as the boat’s first commander.īefore nuclear-powered engines, diesel-powered submarines could only stay underwater for 48 hours and had to return to a port to refuel. It was commissioned at Groton, Connecticut, USA, on the 30th of September 1954, with Commander Eugene P. The world’s first nuclear-powered submarine was the USS Nautilus.
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