[Seany (OP)]

I have just heard whilst eating my dinner about this new navy submarine, nuclear powered that it does not need to be refueled for more than 25 years!

What is this exactly?

[Hadrian]

I have just heard whilst eating my dinner about this new navy submarine, nuclear powered that it does not need to be refueled for more than 25 years!

What is this exactly?

a very large rubber band

[JimBob]

Gosh, Let me think here. I guess "nuclear" means that it has a reactor in it that produces steam that is used to power a steam turbine that in turn generates electricity which causes an a couple of electric motors to rotate, turning a couple of shafts that have screws on the end outside the hull, driving the submarine through the water.

 [] Sorry Sean, just couldn't resist the opportunity.  []

My nephew is a senior CPO, and nuclear engineer, in charge of refueling these monsters. He changes out the fuel rods in the sub. He also glows in the dark. His wife likes this as she can always tell where he is. Poor guy. He has been in the Navy for about 20 years.

[Hadrian]

Gosh, Let me think here. I guess "nuclear" means that it has a reactor in it that produces steam that is used to power a steam turbine that in turn generates electricity which causes an a couple of electric motors to rotate, turning a couple of shafts that have screws on the end outside the hull, driving the submarine through the water.

 [] Sorry Sean, just couldn't resist the opportunity.  []

My nephew is a senior CPO, and nuclear engineer, in charge of refueling these monsters. He changes out the fuel rods in the sub. He also glows in the dark. His wife likes this as she can always tell where he is. Poor guy. He has been in the Navy for about 20 years.

Oh no it not its a very large rubber band  [] [] that nuclear stuff is only a cover story.

[Seany (OP)]

Thanks guys.. []

[Batroost]

Gosh, Let me think here. I guess "nuclear" means that it has a reactor in it that produces steam that is used to power a steam turbine that in turn generates electricity which causes an a couple of electric motors to rotate, turning a couple of shafts that have screws on the end outside the hull, driving the submarine through the water

Nope. The screws are directly driven, through a reduction gearbox, from dedicated steam turbines. There are separate steam turbines for electricity production on each of the submarines. This is a more efficient process and more controllable.

Yes it's true about them not needing to be refuelled in 20-25 years. I was talking to a couple of the designers/builders a few weeks ago. They manage this by using quite highly enriched Uranium fuel; the sort of thf uel you can only buy with a military budget! The slightly older boats did require refuelling at least once in their lives, a major operation that involved cutting a hole in the top of the submarine to get at the reactor.

[JimBob]

OK, OK, I'm not perfect.

Are you really the bridge in Austin Texas that is home to 100's of thousands of Mexican Free Tail bats for part of each year?

[daveshorts]

Nope. The screws are directly driven, through a reduction gearbox, from dedicated steam turbines. There are separate steam turbines for electricity production on each of the submarines. This is a more efficient process and more controllable.

Interesting, as the most recent destroyers they are building are effectively diesel electric - although I guess a nuclear sub doesn't have such a large power drain from the radar so huge amounts of electricity are less useful, and submarines are expensive things to play with new technology on.

[Seany (OP)]

Hi all.. Thanks for that.. Although I don't understand all of it.. []

[JimBob]

Gosh, Let me think here. I guess "nuclear" means that it has a reactor in it that produces steam that is used to power a steam turbine that in turn generates electricity which causes an a couple of electric motors to rotate, turning a couple of shafts that have screws on the end outside the hull, driving the submarine through the water

Nope. The screws are directly driven, through a reduction gearbox, from dedicated steam turbines. There are separate steam turbines for electricity production on each of the submarines. This is a more efficient process and more controllable.

Yes it's true about them not needing to be refuelled in 20-25 years. I was talking to a couple of the designers/builders a few weeks ago. They manage this by using quite highly enriched Uranium fuel; the sort of thf uel you can only buy with a military budget! The slightly older boats did require refuelling at least once in their lives, a major operation that involved cutting a hole in the top of the submarine to get at the reactor.

That is what my nephew is doing. Cutting holes, pulling rods, trying to route the rods to a suitable holding location until a dump site is found. He was doing the inspections of each power plant as the subs returned from a mission and cataloging repairs that might be needed to the power plant.

He is going to make a ton of money when he gets out of the Navy. So many skills acquired. Can you tell I am really proud of him?