S9G reactor

{{Short description|Naval nuclear reactor}}

{{refimprove|date=December 2016}}

File:USS Delaware (SSN-791) transits the Atlantic Ocean during builder's sea trials in August 2019 - 2.jpg transiting the Atlantic during her sea trials in 2019]]

The S9G reactor of the United States Navy is designed to generate electricity and propulsion for the Virginia-class attack submarines. The name S9G follows the designation scheme of platform type (submarines), generation (the ninth), and the contractor (General Electric).

This pressurized water reactor (PWR), developed by Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (formerly managed by General Electric), features increased energy density, and new plant components, including a new steam generator design featuring improved corrosion resistance and reduced life-cycle costs. The steam generator will alleviate the corrosion concerns encountered in existing designs of steam generators, while reducing component size and weight and providing greater flexibility in overall arrangement. The reactor is designed to operate for 33 years without refueling.{{cite web |url=http://mragheb.com/NPRE%20402%20ME%20405%20Nuclear%20Power%20Engineering/Nuclear%20Marine%20Propulsion.pdf |title=Nuclear Marine Propulsion |last=Ragheb |first=M.|date=21 June 2021 |access-date=16 June 2023 |page=9}}{{cite journal |url=http://cns.miis.edu/npr/pdfs/81mahip.pdf |title=Ending the Production of Highly Enriched Uranium for Naval Reactors |last1=Chunyan |first1=Ma |last2=von Hippel |first2=Frank |journal=The Nonproliferation Review |date=Spring 2001 |page=89}}

This naval nuclear reactor is estimated to generate 210 megawatts (MWt){{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/systems/s9g.htm|title = S9G Next Generation Reactor / High Energy Density Core |website=Global Security}} driving a 30 MW pump-jet propulsion system built by BAE Systems that was designed for the Royal Navy{{cite web |url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/transport/nuclear-powered-ships.aspx |title=Nuclear-Powered Ships |publisher=World Nuclear Association |access-date=16 June 2023}} and entered service on the second {{sclass|Trafalgar|submarine|1}}, also featured on the {{sclass|Astute|submarine|1}}s.