Terps Nuclear Thermal Designs (TNTD)

Nuclear Reactors

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Extended Definition: A Nuclear Reactor is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation, and in a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) systems; which could involve marine or aviation/space propulsion systems. In our terms it would be marine as in aquatic for submarines.

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Detailed Explanation: A Nuclear Reactor produces and controls the release of energy from splitting the atoms of certain elements. In a Nuclear powered reactor, the energy released is used as heat to make steam to generate electricity or thrust depending on the particular system being utilized. When a nuclear reactor is incorperated into a marine propulsion system. It can play a key role in allowing submarines to stay submerged for longer periods of time versus non-nuclear powered subs. It also provides a very high-power propulsion system in conditions that can be challenging for any submersible vehicle. Below you'll find a chart that explains the different energy density in terms of various energy sources.

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Figure 4. This graph in particular shows the energy density release (MJ/kg) in correlation with different types of energy/fuel sources. Disclaimer: This image was pulled from ANTSO.
Figure 4. This graph in particular shows the energy density release (MJ/kg) in correlation with different types of energy/fuel sources. Disclaimer: This image was pulled from ANTSO.
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This is important to note because of how much energy is released from the element Uranium-235, It is way more than any other energy source known to man thus far. Uranium was first discovered back in 1789 by a German Chemist known by the name of Martin Klaproth. Its original uses included being incoperated into cermaic glazes to create a colored glass or pottery. They also used it in photography purposes. It wasn't until 1896 that Uranium was first discovered to be radioactive by Henri Becquerel. It is now used as the main fuel in nuclear reactors, but can also be repurposed, and used in the means of making weapons. Crazy enough, Uranium is 500 times more abundant than Gold; furthermore, It is naturally present in most things on Earth. Uranium itself has three ‘naturally occuring' isoptopes which include: Uranium-238, Uranium-235, and Uranium-234. Of the three, Urainuym-235 is the only isotope that can undergo the process of Nuclear Fission.

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Figure 5: This illustration shows the layout of a Nuclear Reactor-Powered Engine with its protective outer shell; that was designed by the US NAVY. (Source: US NAVY).
Figure 5: This illustration shows the layout of a Nuclear Reactor-Powered Engine with its protective outer shell; that was designed by the US NAVY. (Source: US NAVY).
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This enclosed system above is what a nuclear thermal propulsion system looks like that goes into a nuclear powered submarine discussed back on the Home Page.

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Figure 6: This is an illustration of the components of a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System with the protective outer shell that is incorparated into a rocket style propulsion. (Source: NASA).
Figure 6: This is an illustration of the components of a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System with the protective outer shell that is incorparated into a rocket style propulsion. (Source: NASA).
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This system above depicts what a rocket engine would look like with an incorperated nuclear thermal propulsion system. As you can see compared to the marine nuclear thermal propulsion system; it is actually quite a different layout overall in terms of design, but does incorperate some of the same parts and features. as a aquatic NTP system.

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Figure 7: This flowchart shows an up-close, detailed, image of an NTP system without the outside protective shell. Disclaimer: This image was pulled from the Military Analysis Network.
Figure 7: This flowchart shows an up-close, detailed, image of an NTP system without the outside protective shell. Disclaimer: This image was pulled from the Military Analysis Network.
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I decided to provide a flowchart of a Naval NTP System that is blown-up so you all can get a better look at the inside components of a Naval Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System that uses pressurized water through a series of systems to create steam thus in turn creating thrust facilitating the power to the propellar. As you can see, they can be very complex systems with lots of working parts and pieces.

In the majority of nuclear reactors that are incorperated into submarines; they operate off of two main loops, Primary & Secondary Loops, to facilitate energy transfer.

Primary Loop: In terms of the primary loop the nuclear reactor heats up water; a liquid-metal like sodium can also be used in the process as well. The goal of heating up the coolant in the primary loop is to take the stress off of the overall system from the heat generated by the fission process within the reactor.

Secondary Loop: In this loop the residual heat from the primary loop is transferred to the secondary loop which then heats that chambers water. This chamber is the one that is meant to produce steam. That steam is then used to run the turbines which are connected to the submarines propellar; this in turn generates the thrust used to put the submersible vessel into motion.

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