RE: nuke navy - HMS Tireless

[Brian_Gaulke@HC-SC.GC.CA]

Jaroslav Franta wrote:



Maybe someone can provide more precise figures, but I seriously doubt the

whole premise that a submarine reactor can "melt down" -- simply because its

operating power is typically fairly low (compared to power plants), and

therefore the decay heating is low also.





Franta:



The power density in a naval nuclear power plant core should be comparable to

that of a commercial power reactor, i.e., around 100 MWth per cubic metre at

100% rated power.  Assuming similar construction and the need to constrain H/U

atom ratio for maximum core life, the important differences are the mix and

activity concentration of fission products.  In a core with low average power

level, the long lived fission products will be present in greater relative

amounts, but short lived fission products can be comparable after a run of a few

days at high power.  Assuming comparable heat capacity and thermal conductivity

values for core materials, this could lead to similar temperature rises for

similar fission product activities.



Brian R. Gaulke, CHP

brian_gaulke@hc-sc.gc.ca





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