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the most successful "portable" nuclear reactors are those on nuclear submarines, they have been in continuous operation for more than 60 years with very few inc
by andyxor 5y ago
the most successful "portable" nuclear reactors are those on nuclear submarines, they have been in continuous operation for more than 60 years with very few incidents
"American naval reactors starting with the S1W and iterations of designs have operated without incidents since USS Nautilus (SSN-571) launch in 1954" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_submarine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_submarine
- nabla9 5y agoIn the 70s USN subs had 4 accidents. There was three spills irradiated water and one contamination accident. Russians have even more reactor years in submarines and icebreakers, and cargo ships. They have even floating nuclear power station. They have had two major reactor accidents (we know about). Military reactors are expensive to operate even when they are quit safe. You need highly trained people 24/7.
- inter_netuser 5y agoI'd assume civilian reactors wouldn't have constraints nuclear submarine usage imposes, and perhaps could be engineered to be safe? Seems strange to bet against ingenuity.
- nabla9 5y agoIt seems to me that military reactors have better safety record than commercial despite accidents. I just listed the accidents. The safety becomes with cost and performance limit. It's hard to see how smaller nuclear reactors are significantly better than gas turbines in commercial use. The cost comes down with the size.
- fortuna86 5y ago> they have been in continuous operation for more than 60 years with very few incidents The Soviet Union had many accidents, their MO is to pretend it never happened.