Nuclear Electric Magnetohydrodynamic Propulsion for Submarine.

摘要

The thesis analyzes the superconducting technology for a shipboard magnetohydrodynamic propulsion system. Based on the the principles of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), the concept of open water efficiency was used to optimize the preliminary design of the MHD thruster. After the baseline submarine hull, modeled after the Los Angeles class submarine, was selected propulsive efficiency and the top speed for four variant MHD submarines were evaluated. The design criteria were set at a 100 MWt nuclear reactor power upper limit and a requirement of 30 knots for the top speed. This required advanced reactor plant and advanced energy conversion system. The selection of High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) and Liquid-Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) was based on the combined merits of safety, environmental impact, high source temperature and maximum volume power density (KW/L). With the reactor outlet temperatures of 2000 K direct cycle energy conversion systems gave the best results in terms of thermal efficiency and propulsion plant power density. Two energy conversion systems selected were closed-cycle gas turbine geared to a superconducting generator, and closed-cycle liquid-metal MHD generator. Based on submarine reliability and safety the option of using an intermediate heat exchanger was also considered. Finally, non-nuclear support systems affected by the advanced power plant and MHD propulsion, stressing submarine safety, are proposed. (AW)