S3W reactor
File:USS_Skate_(SSN-578)_surfaced_in_Arctic_-_1959.jpgThe S3W reactor is a naval reactor used by the United States Navy to provide electricity generation and propulsion on warships. The S3W designation stands for:
- S {{En dash}} Submarine platform
- 3 {{En dash}} Third generation core designed by the contractor
- W {{En dash}} Westinghouse was the contracted designer
Design
This nuclear reactor was a variant of the Submarine Fleet Reactor (SFR), an advance on the pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant design employed on {{USS|Nautilus|SSN-571|6}}.{{Cite web |last=Ruzicka |first=Dee |title=HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY U.S. NAVAL BASE, PEARL HARBOR, RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY BUILDING (Facility 1274) |url=https://memory.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/hi/hi1000/hi1011/data/hi1011data.pdf }} The S3W plant utilized horizontal U-tube steam generators. This concept developed into vertical U-tube steam generators in the S5W reactor plant, and is in common use today on commercial PWR power plants.
History
{{USS|Halibut|SSGN-587|6}} and the four {{sclass|Skate|submarine|0}} boats were built with S3W reactors: {{USS|Skate|SSN-578|6}}, {{USS|Swordfish|SSN-579|6}}, {{USS|Sargo|SSN-583|6}}, and {{USS|Seadragon|SSN-584|6}}.{{Cite web |last=Mizokami |first=Kyle |date=2020-01-18 |title=Russia Feared This Submarine More Than Any Other |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-feared-submarine-more-any-other-115121 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The National Interest |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carlin |first=Maya |date=2023-12-18 |title=Skate-Class: The U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine That Broke All of the Rules |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/skate-class-us-navy-nuclear-submarine-broke-all-rules-208016 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The National Interest |language=en}} USS Swordfish and USS Seadragon had the S3W reactor installed in the S4W reactor plant, which was an alternate arrangement of the same components.
References
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{{United States Naval reactor}}