How does “nuclear power” power a submarine?
In: Technology
The nuclear reactor is a huge hunk of uranium inside a steel pressure vessel. The uranium undergoes a chain reaction where its atoms split. Each split releases neutrons that causes other atoms to split, and so on.
The reactor makes a huge amount of heat. Water circulates through the reactor and this heated water is used to make steam. The steam runs a set of turbines. Depending on the submarine, the turbines can either spin a shaft and propellor directly, or run a generator that spins a shaft via a motor.
Latest Answers