What elements make a nuclear submarine?
The nuclear reactor that powers the submarine depends on uranium or some other radioactive element as a source of energy.
What components make up a submarine?
A submarine hull has two major components, the light hull and the pressure hull. The light hull (casing in British usage) of a submarine is the outer non-watertight hull which provides a hydrodynamically efficient shape.
What are the 4 main components of a nuclear power plant?
Components of a nuclear reactor
- Fuel.
- Moderator.
- Control rods or blades.
- Coolant.
- Pressure vessel or pressure tubes.
- Steam generator.
- Containment.
What are submarine hulls made of?
Submarine pressure hull are usually made of steel, aluminum, titanium, acrylic plastic and glass. However, the most widely used material is steel, because of a high degree of knowledge available to designers and manufacturers as well as of its outstanding performance in the ocean.
What are the 5 main components of a nuclear power plant?
Any nuclear reactor that produces power via the fission of uranium (U-235) or plutonium (Pu-239) by bombardment with neutrons must have at least five components: nuclear fuel consisting of fissionable material, a nuclear moderator, reactor coolant, control rods, and a shield/containment system.
What are the main components of a nuclear reactor core What is the element that makes up the main component?
Main components The core of the reactor contains all of the nuclear fuel and generates all of the heat. It contains low-enriched uranium (<5\% U-235), control systems, and structural materials. The core can contain hundreds of thousands of individual fuel pins.
What is a nuclear submarine made of?
The hulls of nuclear submarines are made of HY-80, an alloy made from nickel, molybdenum and chromium that protects the submarine from the incredible pressures exerted upon it at great depths. The sail is the streamlined portion that rises above the main body of the sub.
What are the advantages of nuclear-powered submarines?
The performance advantages of nuclear submarines over “conventional” (typically diesel-electric) submarines are considerable. Nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for conventional submarines.
What type of fuel is used in a submarine reactor?
Reactors used in submarines typically use highly enriched fuel (often greater than 20\%) to enable them to deliver a large amount of power from a smaller reactor and operate longer between refuelings – which are difficult due to the reactor’s position within the submarine’s pressure hull.
What do Submarines need to operate?
Everything the crew needs is provided by the nuclear reactor. Air, fresh water and electricity. Also known as the “sail” or “tower,” this is the control center of the submarine. A periscope is located in the conning tower so the submarine can remain completely submerged and still visually see what is on the surface.