09III/09IV (093/094) Nuclear Submarine Thread

[VESSEL]

Russia looked at nuclear batteries when their AIP efforts for Lada/Amur hit a dead end. But nothing came of that either. As for a full on reactor, I suspect the complexities and cost of design and operation will quickly approach the level of SSNs, hence why the entire effort renders itself somewhat academic. My personal guess is China will for some time continue modernisation of SSK forces incl AIP, but at the same time increasingly focus on a nuclear powered fleet for their most relevant assignments.

Or Russian special purpose nuclear subs.
Although I have my doubts on "comparable noise levels to conventionally-powered SSKs". Natural circulation?

The only information we have on the "mini-nuke" right now can be summed-up as "basically swapping the conventional propulsion system on SSKs with a small-sized nuclear reactor":
View attachment 115993

According to the slide, the SS(N)Ks should have "unlimited endurance after just one fuel-up" and "comparable noise levels to conventionally-powered SSKs".

The closest model resembling the SS(N)K (in terms of displacement and propulsion) would be the Rubis-class SSNs of the French Navy.

You should learn about its civilian prototype: the 5MW Nuclear Heating Reactor (NHR-5) built in the 1990s.This type of reactor is superior to Canadian AMPS.

 

[gelgoog]

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FIVE MW NUCLEAR HEATING REACTOR
Tsinghua University,
Beijing, China
The 5 MW Nuclear Heating Reactor (NHR-5) developed and designed by the Institute of Nuclear Energy Technology (INET) has been operated for four winter seasons since 1989. During the time of commissioning and operation a number of experiments including self-stability, self-regulation, and simulation of ATWS etc. were carried out. Some operating experiences such as water chemistry, radiation protection and environmental impacts and so on were also obtained at the same time. All of these results demonstrate the design of the NHR-5 is successful.
...
The NHR-5 is the first heating reactor in operation in the world. It is an integrated vessel type light water reactor cooled by natural circulation with self-pressurized performance.

 

[snake65]

And what exactly makes NHR-5 a "civilian prototype" for any military development? 35 years have passed, where is the military grade natural circulation reactor? Any links?

 

[tphuang]

Or Russian special purpose nuclear subs.
Although I have my doubts on "comparable noise levels to conventionally-powered SSKs". Natural circulation?

keep in mind that all nuclear subs should be able to operate at certain speed with natural circulation. Given that this is going to be hypothetically a very slow sub, it will most likely have natural circulation. However, most of the noise for a nuclear submarine comes from the engine room, not the reactor itself. You need serious rafting for that. I believe they already have rafting around the stirling AIP plants, but stirling engine doesn't need to be on all the time. It's not like you can shut off the mini-nuke when you want to go into silence mode. That's why I have always found noise level to be a concern.

After all, running on just batteries for a sub should be very quiet

 

[abc123]

What's the price tag of said submarine reactor, for such mini-SSNs? How much more expencive would they be in comparison with similar sized SSK?

 

[snake65]

What's the price tag of said submarine reactor, for such mini-SSNs? How much more expencive would they be in comparison with similar sized SSK?

Don't forget to include price for steam turbine, coolant pumps, etc. You will still need Diesel generators as backup power as well.

 

[VESSEL]

As far as I know, their funding for building a land-based prototype reactor is less than $50 million. The funds include the cost of civil engineering.

 

[antiterror13]

As far as I know, their funding for building a land-based prototype reactor is less than $50 million. The funds include the cost of civil engineering.

very small fund

 

[Maikeru]

I really don't see a hybrid SSK/N making much sense on cost-effectiveness grounds. I can see that PLAN might go for a small pure SSN like Rubis/Amethyst just to get numbers up quickly. This could potentially be built at Wuchang.

 

[Andy1974]

Don't forget to include price for steam turbine, coolant pumps, etc. You will still need Diesel generators as backup power as well.

Do you think a powerful battery could replace diesel generators? If you have a battery that can get you to relative safety then maybe you don’t need the diesel backup.