The PLA's next nuclear sub will be a miniaturized pebble bed reactor which will be much more safer and much more easier to maintenance and service than conventional nuclear reactors. The PRC is a world leader in 4th and 5th generation nuclear technology ! Former president Zemin's son is in charge of the national thorium reactor program.
09V/09VI (095/096) Nuclear Submarine Thread
- Thread starter Hendrik_2000
- Start date
I have no idea, but it does look too far forward to be related to the reactor, which is in the back half of the sub.Nope. You go that one spot on. So why is there a bump? Someone here said that it maybe a new reactor related thing?
by78
General
This is not a fanboy forum.
Not necessary. @by78 posted an research paper in #97
The paper showed an illustration of a sub with the reactor compartment being in the middle just behind the sail. If this illustration mean anything serious, the reactor can be the cause of a hump.
It is only the reactor pressure vessel and maybe the first loop in this section, the second loop, steam turbine and drive (electrical or gearboxed mechanical) can be placed further aft. The pipe between the first and second loop can be placed through the opening between the middle and aft pressure hull.
The paper was published in 2009. The simulation tests must have been concluded by then. So there is 10 years to do some water-tank tests before building a full-sized sub. BTW, multiple pressure hull construction is not new idea as Project 941 has done that decades ago and proven to work well. It would not have been an extreme challenge for China to do so in a much smaller size many decades later.
I won't say for sure that the hump is due to a new reactor, but it is a good possibility.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
The reactor is way too forward to be practical Too close to control room and crew quarter. Think of shielding and running long pipe to the steam turbine Not very efficient . Anyway look like the brass are inspecting the new assembly hall.From Henri K blog
The Chinese naval group CEO CSIC has visited the Bohai shipyard in recent days, including the new nuclear submarine assembly halls. The military detachments of the Chinese navy seem to be there.
The Chinese naval group CEO CSIC has visited the Bohai shipyard in recent days, including the new nuclear submarine assembly halls. The military detachments of the Chinese navy seem to be there.
Even in your illustration the reactor is still aft of the hump seen on the 093A/B/whatever, where it is located immediately aft of (and contiguous with) the sail, which means if that thing is a reactor you have even less room for the typical compartments that are usually located forward of the reactor like crew quarters, CIC, etc., than is found in this illustration.Not necessary. @by78 posted an research paper in #97
The paper showed an illustration of a sub with the reactor compartment being in the middle just behind the sail. If this illustration mean anything serious, the reactor can be the cause of a hump.
It is only the reactor pressure vessel and maybe the first loop in this section, the second loop, steam turbine and drive (electrical or gearboxed mechanical) can be placed further aft. The pipe between the first and second loop can be placed through the opening between the middle and aft pressure hull.
The paper was published in 2009. The simulation tests must have been concluded by then. So there is 10 years to do some water-tank tests before building a full-sized sub. BTW, multiple pressure hull construction is not new idea as Project 941 has done that decades ago and proven to work well. It would not have been an extreme challenge for China to do so in a much smaller size many decades later.
I won't say for sure that the hump is due to a new reactor, but it is a good possibility.
In the illustration, the reactor compartment is in the middle with 3 compartment before and after. The sail is much smaller (meaning not a representation of a true sub) than any 09III types. If the illustration is strictly made after a true sub, the sail would have reached (extending backwards) the front of the reactor compartment, that will be the same as the hump on 09III immediately adjacent to the sail.
Besides, the illustration is only about hull arrangement, not meant to be accurately represent a true sub.
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The paper was written by naval researchers of nuclear sub. I don't think he is unaware of your concerns.
They will think out of the box for their nuclear propulsion systems. Whats to say they won't go the traditional nuclear propulsion route and just use the reactor along with existing AIP system. Basically a solid state heat/steam generating that an AIP system that is required to drive an electric engine !