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How does an A1B reactor work?
The A1B reactor is an aircraft carrier nuclear reactor developed by the United States Navy. Aircraft carriers’ nuclear reactors provide the electrical and motor energy of the ship by splitting enriched uranium to produce heat and convert water to steam to power steam turbines.
 To shift its immense weight of 100,000 tonnes, the US Navy has equipped it with two A1B nuclear reactors, each capable of producing 300 MW of electricity.
Is it legal to own a nuclear reactor?
NO! Under US federal law all nuclear reactors are subject to regulation by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the agency with the sole responsibility of ensuring the safe and orderly operation of all nuclear facilities in the USA.
Is it legal to build a nuclear reactor?
How much uranium is used in a nuclear submarine?
Natural uranium mined from the ground consists mainly of an isotope called uranium-238, mixed with small amounts (0.7\%) of the key isotope uranium-235. For the reactor to work, the uranium fuel has to be “enriched” to contain the desired proportion of uranium-235. For submarines, this is typically about 50\%.
What is a A1B reactor used for?
A1B reactor. The A1B reactor plant is an aircraft carrier nuclear reactor developed by the United States Navy. It is used in Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers to provide electrical and propulsion energy.
How do aircraft carriers’ nuclear reactors work?
A1B reactor. Aircraft carriers’ nuclear reactors provide the electrical and motor energy of the ship by splitting enriched uranium to produce heat and convert water to steam to power steam turbines. This process is largely the same as land-based nuclear reactors, although smaller naval reactors have several design differences.
What does A1B mean in the Navy?
The new reactor was named A1B, following the Navy’s reactor-designation scheme of type, generation, and manufacturer: A for aircraft carrier, 1 for the maker’s first reactor plant design, and B for Bechtel. Two A1B reactor plants will power each Gerald R. Ford class ship.
What’s the difference between a nuclear reactor and a nuclear weapon?
In a nuclear weapon, all of the energy comes out in an instant. So a nuclear reactor can produce radioactive fission fragments continuously over a long period of time while a nuclear weapon produces them in one shot.