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Marasmusine
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Summary:: How do high-enriched uranium reactors compare with low-enriched uranium reactors?
Hello, I'm doing some research for a book, and there's some information about fission reactors I just can't find.
I am comparing HEU fission reactors with LEU fission reactors ... even ballpark figures will be helpful.
So for example, the S8G HEU reactor used on the Ohio-class submarines weighed 2750 tons (including shielding, coolant and turbines, I think, correct me if I'm wrong). It produced 60,000 hp for the driveshaft. The fuel endurance was 9 years.
What would be the performance of a LEU reactor of a similar mass? From what I've read, the fuel would need replacing 2 to 3 times more often. But I think LEU would be cheaper to manufacture (7 SWU instead of 230 SWU).
Performace per mass of the whole reactor is of most interest to me.
Thanks for reading, apologies if it is an inappropriate question, this is my first post.
Hello, I'm doing some research for a book, and there's some information about fission reactors I just can't find.
I am comparing HEU fission reactors with LEU fission reactors ... even ballpark figures will be helpful.
So for example, the S8G HEU reactor used on the Ohio-class submarines weighed 2750 tons (including shielding, coolant and turbines, I think, correct me if I'm wrong). It produced 60,000 hp for the driveshaft. The fuel endurance was 9 years.
What would be the performance of a LEU reactor of a similar mass? From what I've read, the fuel would need replacing 2 to 3 times more often. But I think LEU would be cheaper to manufacture (7 SWU instead of 230 SWU).
Performace per mass of the whole reactor is of most interest to me.
Thanks for reading, apologies if it is an inappropriate question, this is my first post.