Rolls-Royce PWR

Last updated

The Rolls-Royce pressurised water reactor (PWR) series has powered the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines since the Valiant class, commissioned in 1966. [1]

Contents

Background

Nuclear reactor designs, operating methods and performance standards are highly classified. [2]

The United Kingdom's first nuclear-powered submarine HMS Dreadnought was commissioned in 1963 powered by a Westinghouse S5W reactor, provided to Britain under the 1958 US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement. [3] [4]

PWR1

HMS Valiant, the first British nuclear submarine to be powered by a British built reactor HMS Valiant S102 01.jpg
HMS Valiant, the first British nuclear submarine to be powered by a British built reactor

The first British naval reactor was the PWR1. It was based on a core and reactor assembly of purely British design. The reactor first went critical in 1965, four years later than planned. [5] Technology transfers under the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement eventually made Rolls-Royce entirely self-sufficient in reactor design in exchange for a "considerable amount" of information regarding submarine design and quietening techniques being passed on to the United States. [6] [7] [8] [9]

The reactor fuel was highly enriched uranium (HEU) enriched to between 93% and 97%. Each nuclear core had a life of about 10 years, so had to be refueled about twice during the lifetime of a submarine. [10] [11]

Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations at Derby was the centre for design and manufacture of the UK's submarine reactors, and remains so today. The Ministry of Defence's Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE), at Dounreay, tested each reactor core design prior to its installation in nuclear submarines.

Submarines

PWR2

The PWR2 was developed for the Vanguard-class Trident missile submarines and is a development of the PWR1. The first PWR2 reactor was completed in 1985 with testing beginning in August 1987 at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment.

The reactor fuel is highly enriched uranium (HEU) enriched to between 93% and 97%. The latest PWR2 reactor core design is "Core H", which has a life of about 30 years removing the need for refueling, allowing a submarine to avoid two reactor refits in its service life. [10] [11] HMS Vanguard was fitted with the new core during its refit, followed by her three sister boats. The Astute-class submarines have this full-life core installed. As they were developed for SSBNs, the reactors are considerably larger than those of then-current British fleet submarines. The diameter of then-forthcoming Astute-class hulls was therefore increased to accommodate the PWR2.

A safety assessment of the PWR2 design by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator in November 2009 was released under a Freedom of Information request in March 2011. [12] [13] The regulator identified two major areas where UK practice fell significantly short of comparable good practice: loss-of-coolant accident and control of submarine depth following emergency reactor shutdown. [14] [13] The regulator concluded that PWR2 was "potentially vulnerable to a structural failure of the primary circuit", which was a failure mode with significant safety hazards to crew and the public. [13] [15]

In January 2012 radiation was detected in the PWR2 test reactor's coolant water, caused by a microscopic breach in fuel cladding. This discovery led to HMS Vanguard being refueled early and contingency measures being applied to other Vanguard and Astute-class submarines, at a cost of £270 million. This was not revealed to the public until 2014. [16] [17]

In February 2013, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded Rolls-Royce a £800 million ten year "foundation" contract to "deliver and maintain" the reactors of the Astute-class and the Vanguard-class replacement the Successor. [18] [19] In February 2019, the MoD awarded Rolls-Royce a £235 million three year contract for Nuclear Propulsion Lifetime Management for the Trafalgar, Vanguard and Astute classes. [20]

Submarines

PWR3

Three propulsion options were considered for the replacement of the Vanguard-class, the Successor: PWR2, PWR2b (derivative with improved performance) and PWR3. [21] PWR3 was a new system "based on a US design but using UK reactor technology". [22] [23] The Royal Institution of Naval Architects reported that it was likely that the UK was given access to the US Navy S9G reactor design used in their Virginia-class submarines. [24] The PWR3 was a simpler and safer design with a longer life and lower maintenance requirements than the PWR2 variants and cost roughly the same as the PWR2b. [21] The PWR3 has 30% fewer parts compared to the PWR2. [25]

In March 2011, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the PWR3 was the preferred option "because those reactors give us a better safety outlook". [26] [27] In May 2011, the Ministry of Defence announced that PWR3 had been selected for the Successor (later named the Dreadnought-class in 2016). [21] [15] The PWR3 cost about £50 million more per boat to purchase and operate compared to PWR2 designs. This is offset by the PWR3's longer life over the 25-year life PWR2 designs. [21] The PWR3 does not require reactor core prototype tests; instead computational modelling is used. [28] [29] Consequently, the Shore Test Facility (STF) reactor located at Vulcan NRTE was shutdown in 2015. [30]

In June 2012, the MoD awarded Rolls-Royce a £600 million contract to produce reactors for the Dreadnought-class and also for the final boat of the Astute-class HMS Agincourt. [31] The MoD also awarded Rolls-Royce a further £500 million to refurbish their Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations reactor core manufacturing plant at Derby to manufacture the PWR3 and to extend the plant's operational life to 2056. [31] [32] In January 2020, the National Audit Office reported that the construction of the plant was five years behind schedule and was now forecast to be in service in 2026. [32] [33]

Submarines

Future

Rolls Royce is building the reactor for SSN-AUKUS, [34] which may be the PWR3, or a derivative. [35] [36]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Resolution</i>-class submarine Royal Navy ballistic missile submarine class

The Resolution class was a class of four nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) built for the Royal Navy as part of the UK Polaris programme. Each submarine was armed with up to 16 UGM-27 Polaris A-3 nuclear missiles.

<i>Trafalgar</i>-class submarine 1983 class of British attack submarines

The Trafalgar class is a class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy, and the successor to the Swiftsure class. Like the majority of Royal Navy nuclear submarines, all seven boats were constructed at Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, Cumbria. With only one boat remaining active and in commission and six retired from the seven originally in service, the class makes up part of the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered ‘hunter-killer’ submarine force. The Trafalgar class has nearly been replaced by the larger and more capable Astute class, of which five are commissioned.

<i>Vanguard</i>-class submarine Royal Navy ballistic missile submarine class

The Vanguard class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) in service with the Royal Navy. The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the Trident nuclear programme, and comprises four vessels: Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance, built between 1986 and 1999 at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, now owned by BAE Systems. All four boats are based at HM Naval Base Clyde , 40 km (25 mi) west of Glasgow, Scotland.

<i>Astute</i>-class submarine Class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines

The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness. Seven boats will be constructed: the first of class, Astute, was launched by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in 2007, commissioned in 2010, and declared fully operational in May 2014. The Astute class is the replacement for the Trafalgar-class fleet submarines in Royal Navy service.

HMS <i>Ambush</i> (S120) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Ambush is an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy, the second boat of her class.

HMS Artful is the third Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the British Royal Navy. She is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name. Artful was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine on 17 March 1997, and was constructed at Barrow in Furness. She was named on 20 September 2013, was rolled out of the shipyard construction hall on 16 May 2014, and was due to start sea trials in early 2015. Artful made her first successful basin dive in October 2014, and sailed on 13 August 2015 for sea trials. Artful was handed over the Royal Navy on 14 December 2015, and commissioned on 18 March 2016.

HMS <i>Dreadnought</i> (S101) Submarine of the Royal Navy

The seventh HMS Dreadnought was the United Kingdom's first nuclear-powered submarine, built by Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness. Launched by Queen Elizabeth II on Trafalgar Day 1960 and commissioned into service with the Royal Navy in April 1963, she continued in service until 1980. The submarine was powered by a S5W reactor, a design made available as a direct result of the 1958 US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear submarine</span> Submarine powered by a nuclear reactor

A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" submarines. Nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for conventional submarines. The large amount of power generated by a nuclear reactor allows nuclear submarines to operate at high speed for long periods, and the long interval between refuelings grants a range virtually unlimited, making the only limits on voyage times being imposed by such factors as the need to restock food or other consumables.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HMNB Clyde</span> Operating base in Scotland for the Royal Navy

His Majesty's Naval Base, Clyde, primarily sited at Faslane on the Gare Loch, is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy. It is the navy's headquarters in Scotland and is best known as the home of Britain's nuclear weapons, in the form of nuclear submarines armed with Trident missiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SSN (hull classification symbol)</span> Symbol for nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine

An SSN is a nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine. SSN is the US Navy hull classification symbol for such vessels; the SS denotes a submarine and the N denotes nuclear power. The designation SSN is used for interoperability throughout NATO under STANAG 1166, though navies use other terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Navy Submarine Service</span> One of the five fighting arms of the British Royal Navy

The Royal Navy Submarine Service is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes known as the Silent Service, as submarines are generally required to operate undetected.

Rolls-Royce Submarines, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc, operates three sites licensed to handle nuclear material, two of which are at Raynesway in Derby, and the other at Vulcan Nuclear Reactor Testing Establishment (NRTE), Dounreay, UK.

<i>Dreadnought</i>-class submarine Class of British nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines

The Dreadnought class is the future replacement for the Vanguard class of ballistic missile submarines. Like their predecessors they will carry Trident II D-5 missiles. The Vanguard submarines entered service in the United Kingdom in the 1990s with an intended service life of 25 years. Their replacement is necessary if the Royal Navy is to maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent (CASD), the principle of operation behind the Trident system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power in Scotland</span> Overview of nuclear power in Scotland

Scotland has a long history of nuclear research and electricity generation. Nuclear energy consistently accounts for 20-80% of the electric supply in Scotland depending on weather conditions for wind power generation and electricity demand. As of 2022, there is only one remaining operating nuclear power station in Scotland (Torness).

<i>Columbia</i>-class submarine US Navy nuclear ballistic missile submarine class

The Columbia-class is an upcoming class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines designed to replace the Ohio-class of the United States Navy. Construction of the first submarine began on 1 October 2020. It is scheduled to enter service in 2031.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AUKUS</span> Australia–UK–US security partnership

AUKUS, also styled as Aukus, is a trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Announced on 15 September 2021, the partnership involves the US and the UK assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. The partnership also includes cooperation on advanced cyber mechanisms, artificial intelligence and autonomy, quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic, electronic warfare, innovation and information sharing. The partnership will focus on military capability, distinguishing it from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance that also includes New Zealand and Canada.

SSN-AUKUS Proposed submarines of the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy

The SSN-AUKUS, also known as the SSN-A, is a planned class of nuclear-powered fleet submarine (SSN) intended to enter service with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy in the late 2030s and Royal Australian Navy in the 2040s. The class will replace the UK's Astute class and Australia's Collins class submarines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment</span>

Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE), formerly HMS Vulcan, is a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) establishment in Scotland, operated by Rolls-Royce Submarines.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Asst Chief Engineer - Astute Christopher Palmer. "Management of Key Technologies in the UK Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme" (PDF). Rolls-Royce Submarines. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Ritchie 2015, p. 3.
  3. ↑ Ritchie, Nick (February 2015). The UK Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme and Highly Enriched Uranium (PDF) (Report). Federation of American Scientists, Washington, D.C.: University of York, UK. p. 3. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Vanguard to Trident; British Naval Policy since World War II, Eric J. Grove, The Bodley Head, 1987, ISBN   0-370-31021-7
  5. ↑ Daniels, R.J (2004). The End Of An Era: The Memoirs Of a Naval Constructor. Periscope Publishing. pp. 135–136, 153. ISBN   1-904381-18-9 . Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. p. 529. ISBN   1557501327.
  7. ↑ Daniels, R.J (2004). The End Of An Era: The Memoirs Of a Naval Constructor. Periscope Publishing. p. 134. ISBN   1-904381-18-9 . Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  8. ↑ James Jinks; Peter Hennessy (29 October 2015). The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945. Penguin UK. p. 195. ISBN   978-0-14-197370-8.
  9. ↑ "Nuclear-Powered Submarines". US Naval Institute. November 2021. the British made important contributions to U.S. submarine design, such as the concept of rafting for silencing and initial types of pump-jets
  10. 1 2 Ritchie 2015, pp. 3–6.
  11. 1 2 King, S J; Putte, D Vande (July 2003). Identification and Description of UK Radioactive Wastes and Materials Potentially Requiring Long-term Management. Nirex Report N/085. UK Nirex Ltd: Didcot. pp. 17–19. ISBN   1840293306 . Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  12. ↑ Rob Edwards (10 March 2011). "Flaws in nuclear submarine reactors could be fatal, secret report warns". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 McFarlane, Head of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator Cdre Andrew (2009). "Annex B: Successor SSBN - Safety Regulator's advice on the selection of the propulsion plant in support of the future deterrent (4 November 2009) DNSR/22/11/2". Successor Submarine Project (Note by the Assistant Secretary) (PDF). (09)62. Defence Board. Released under FOI. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  14. ↑ Joseph Watts (11 March 2011). "Expert warned MoD on safety of Rolls-Royce nuclear sub reactors". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  15. 1 2 "PWR3 Reactor chosen for Trident". defencemanagement.com. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
  16. ↑ "Nuclear submarine to get new core after test reactor problem". BBC. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  17. ↑ David Maddox (8 March 2014). "MoD accused of Dounreay radiation leak cover-up". The Scotsman. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "MOD awards £800 million submarine propulsion contract". Ministry of Defence (Press release). 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  19. ↑ Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Philip Dunne (13 February 2013). "Rolls-Royce Submarines (Foundation Contract)". UK Parliament. House of Commons. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Defence Secretary Announces £235 Million Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Deal". Ministry of Defence (Press release). 25 February 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 4 The United Kingdom's Future Nuclear Deterrent: The Submarine Initial Gate Parliamentary Report (PDF) (Report). Ministry of Defence. May 2011. p. 5. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Hollinshead, Dr P; MacKinder, A P (2009). "Annex A: Successor Submarine Project Review Note (24 November 2009)". Successor Submarine Project (Note by the Assistant Secretary) (PDF). (09)62. Defence Board. Released under FOI. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "Safety paramount for RN nuclear submarine reactors" (PDF). Defence Codex: The Magazine for Defence Engineering and Science. Ministry of Defence (9): 15. Autumn 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2011.
  24. ↑ Turner, Julian (29 July 2013). "Deep impact: inside the UK's new Successor-Class nuclear submarine". Naval Technology. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Nuclear – Engineering Excellence" (PDF). Rolls-Royce. 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  26. ↑ Severin Carrell (23 March 2011). "Navy to axe 'Fukushima type' nuclear reactors from submarines". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "Trident Replacement Programme". UK Parliament. House of Commons. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  28. ↑ Grimes, Professor Robin; Ion, Professor Dame Sue; Sherry, Professor Andrew (28 October 2014). Royal Navy Nuclear Reactor Test Facility Review (PDF) (Report). Released under FOI. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  29. ↑ "Submarine reactor testing to end at Vulcan" (PDF). Desider: The Magazine for Defence Equipment and Support. Ministry of Defence (43): 10. December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2011.
  30. ↑ Ministry of Defence (22 July 2015). "Shutdown of shore test facility reactor" (Press release). Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  31. 1 2 3 "Royal Navy submarine contract awarded". Ministry of Defence (Press release). 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012.
  32. 1 2 National Audit Office. (10 January 2020). Ministry of Defence : Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear-regulated sites (PDF). House of Commons papers, session 2019/20, HC 19. pp. 4, 36, 53–54. ISBN   9781786042934 . Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  33. ↑ Chuter, Andrew (13 May 2020). "Three British nuclear programs are $1.67 billion over budget". DefenseNews. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  34. ↑ Allison, George (14 June 2023). "Rolls-Royce Expands for Aussie submarine reactor needs" . Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  35. ↑ Thomas, Richard (14 March 2023). "The evolution of the UK's SSNR into the SSN-AUKUS". Naval Technology. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  36. ↑ "AUKUS plan details: a triumph of hope over experience". Nuclear Information Service. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.