Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Powered SubmarinesSubmarines

By Zachary FoilbBy Zachary Foilb

IntroductionIntroduction

•The first nuclear powered submarine The first nuclear powered submarine was the USS Nautilus built in 1955. was the USS Nautilus built in 1955.

•Westinghouse was the company that Westinghouse was the company that built the first submarine. built the first submarine.

•The first nuclear submarine was 320 The first nuclear submarine was 320 feet long and cost $55 million. feet long and cost $55 million.

•To this day nuclear submarines use To this day nuclear submarines use the same process to generate energy.the same process to generate energy.

Inside a nuclear Inside a nuclear submarinesubmarine

•Nuclear-powered submarine are Nuclear-powered submarine are built with the nuclear power plant built with the nuclear power plant inside of it.inside of it.

•Nuclear submarines use nuclear Nuclear submarines use nuclear reactors, steam turbines and water reactors, steam turbines and water flow to drive its propeller. flow to drive its propeller.

•The propeller provides the forward The propeller provides the forward motion of the submarine and moves motion of the submarine and moves it through the water.it through the water.

Creating EnergyCreating Energy• The submarine uses a nuclear generator to The submarine uses a nuclear generator to generate heat. generate heat.

• Heat is created from the fissioning of nuclear Heat is created from the fissioning of nuclear fuel inside the reactor. fuel inside the reactor.

• The nuclear generator creates heat and the heat The nuclear generator creates heat and the heat is transferred to water which then becomes hot. is transferred to water which then becomes hot.

• The hot water gets pumped to the steam generator. The hot water gets pumped to the steam generator. • The steam generator takes the water in a The steam generator takes the water in a reservoir and heats it up with the hot water reservoir and heats it up with the hot water created by the nuclear reactor to make steam. created by the nuclear reactor to make steam.

• The steam goes through pipes to the turbine. The steam goes through pipes to the turbine. • The turbine creates energy to spin the propeller. The turbine creates energy to spin the propeller. • The water cools and then goes back to the steam The water cools and then goes back to the steam generator where it is heated and becomes steam generator where it is heated and becomes steam again.again.

Nuclear Pressurized Water Nuclear Pressurized Water ReactorReactor

Propelling the Propelling the SubmarineSubmarine

• The process of heating and moving of hot The process of heating and moving of hot water and steam creates the energy that water and steam creates the energy that moves the propeller of the submarine. moves the propeller of the submarine.

• The propeller provides the forward The propeller provides the forward motion of the submarine and moves it motion of the submarine and moves it through the water. through the water.

• Since the fissioning process also Since the fissioning process also produces radiation, shields are placed produces radiation, shields are placed around the reactor so that the crew is around the reactor so that the crew is protected.protected.

Life inside a Life inside a nuclear-powered submarinenuclear-powered submarine

• Nuclear-powered submarines Nuclear-powered submarines can operate submerged for can operate submerged for months at a time. The crew on months at a time. The crew on a nuclear-powered submarine a nuclear-powered submarine are all volunteers who goare all volunteers who gothrough difficult testing before through difficult testing before being accepted to work on the submarine. being accepted to work on the submarine.

• The crew must manage to deal with physical and mental The crew must manage to deal with physical and mental struggles. struggles. They are separated from their families for a long time.They are separated from their families for a long time.

• Crew members live inside a small hull filled with the Crew members live inside a small hull filled with the machines whichmachines whichkeep them alive and allow the ship to function. They live keep them alive and allow the ship to function. They live with verywith verylittle room between the machines and work very long days.little room between the machines and work very long days.

"It's a mean looking beast. I think it looks "It's a mean looking beast. I think it looks like the alien.”like the alien.” Chris Nelson of BAE Systems, talking about the Royal Navy's Astute submarine Chris Nelson of BAE Systems, talking about the Royal Navy's Astute submarine

(above).(above).

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ImagesImages• http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/reactor.htmlhttp://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/reactor.html• http://forums.canadiancontent.net/international-politics/62168-worlds-http://forums.canadiancontent.net/international-politics/62168-worlds-

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