How much nuclear fuel is in a nuclear sub?

AI Thread Summary
An Ohio-class submarine's exact amount of fissile material is classified, but estimates suggest it could be around 1000 pounds. Discussions emphasize that the reactor's power output is more sensitive than the fuel quantity, as it relates to the submarine's speed capabilities. The reactor itself is relatively small, comparable to a stack of refrigerators, and its efficiency in converting heat to electricity is typically around 30-40%. The conversation also highlights that operational limits are more often dictated by food supplies than fuel. Overall, the thread illustrates the complexities and secrecy surrounding nuclear submarine technology.
  • #51
pcvrx560 said:
How much fissile material, in kilograms, would, say, an Ohio-class submarine carry?

If it's classified, what would be about a good estimate?

Well geez, every one seems to be answering for the reactor that is used to propel the ship on its merry way. Were you asking about the fissile material in the armament (like 24 missiles w/8 warheads)?

My specialty was Los Angeles class, but both are classified so a good estimate - enough to get the job done! Borek was close for one of the answers above with one of his estimates and being close counts in nuclear bombs!
 
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  • #52
Tarr said:
Well geez, every one seems to be answering for the reactor that is used to propel the ship on its merry way. Were you asking about the fissile material in the armament (like 24 missiles w/8 warheads)?

My specialty was Los Angeles class, but both are classified so a good estimate - enough to get the job done! Borek was close for one of the answers above with one of his estimates and being close counts in nuclear bombs!

As a rule, the nuclear material in a warhead is trivial, tens of kilograms, vs tons in the reactor.
A ton of TNT is 4.184 gigajoules; that is just over a megawatt-hour. A Sea Wolf sub is officially 45000 HP; that is 33 MW; that means it uses about the same amount of energy as 762 tons of TNT every day at full power.
 
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