Why is nuclear-powered the standard for submarines, when not for ferry, small ships and vessels ?
In: Engineering
Being able to stay underwater indefinately is the defining feature. And the military having the expertise to run a nuclear reactor.
Combustion engines can’t operate when submerged. Subs have batteries for when they are submerged, but periodically the sub would need to surface to run the engines to recharge the batteries. A nuclear sub can stay submerged until they run out of stored food.
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