4 ms·
The article implies that sodium cooling is novel, but it's been used in (experimental) reactors since the 1950s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_Bre
by Jabbles 3y ago
The article implies that sodium cooling is novel, but it's been used in (experimental) reactors since the 1950s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_Breeder_Reactor_I#Design https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_Breeder_Reactor_I...
- pxmpxm 3y agoDidn't the soviets use it on their fast attack submarines?
- Iwan-Zotow 3y agoLead not sodium
- ethbr0 3y agoYes. Lead-bismuth in the 7 boat Alfa class https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa-class_submarine https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa-class_submarine Presumably you wouldn't want to use something that violently catches fire (sodium) in a vehicle designed to tolerate nearby explosions.
- hliyan 3y agoAlso a vehicle that is immersed in a liquid that violently reacts with it.
- acidburnNSA 3y agoPresumably. The USA did build a sodium-cooled submarine at one point, the Seawolf. Having high thermal efficiency increases range, and liquid metals can be pumped electromagnetically and completely silently, with no moving parts. It was converted to water coolant later due to technical challenges though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Seawolf_(SSN-575) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Seawolf_(SSN-575)