this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2024
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And Finally...
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Why is the sub thing a bad idea?
What's more important:
Providing clean power to millions
Sitting at the bottom of the ocean waiting to bring about nuclear annihilation?
So from some googling it looks like the biggest nuclear subs top out at about 30MWe of output, which is roughly the same as EDFs West Benhar wind farm (https://www.edf-re.uk/what-we-do/onshore-wind/) which has 7 onshore wind turbines and can power about 18,000 homes.
Subs reactors will also be designed around the needs to power the sub with will presumably have much different load requirements to commercial nuclear power station.
I'm also willing to bet it isn't exactly economically viable running it long term.
Slightly related but there was a time they used a engine as an emergency generator for a town https://youtu.be/FWYbD2ga8DM
Probably not set up for it, phased correctly, or economicly viable.
Saying that, as a stunt and promo it doesn't need to be.
Nuclear subs probably aren't set up to handle lightning hitting the grid, either.
My understanding is that subs use the nuclear plant to generate steam, which powers a steam turbine connected directly to the prop. They can't generate that much electrical power.
It's apparently been done in Russia (they also use nuclear-powered ice-breakers) but they don't necessarily care about safety too much. When it is done elsewhere, it tends to be that the marine reactor is no longer in the sub/ship or they modify it heavily and facilities are built to facilitate it's use as a power plant - scroll down to "Marine reactors used for power supply, floating nuclear power plants" here.
Here's something from someone who has thought it through (the ultimate source seems to be this post from a submarine officer):
Basically, there's no giant socket on a nuclear sub to plug anything into (some recharge the batteries from dockside others just do it from the excess power of the reactor when in dock) and there would need to be a step-up transformer with a sufficiently heavy-duty cable to run it to the grid, where the power breakers would need to be over-ridden. So basically, you'd be jury-rigging a number of complicated systems (including a nuclear reactor) for no good reason. Also if he thinks he's going to try that in the middle of Liverpool then he can do one. I think JRM can now consider himself on the Scouse Shit-list - by default Tories are on the Naughty List and you have to work hard to get off it (basically only Hezza is welcome to come round for a pint, but he still might have to get the ale in to guarantee no-one kicks off).
Because JRM suggested it.