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{{short description|U.S. Navy nuclear reactor}}
[[File:US_Navy_010730-N-6234S-004_USS_Carl_Vinson_(CVN_70)_underway.jpg | thumb | right | The USS Carl Vinson]]
The '''A4W reactor''' is a [[United States Naval reactor|naval reactor]] used by the [[United States Navy]] to [[Nuclear marine propulsion|propel]] [[warship]]s and [[electricity generation|generate onboard electricity]].
The '''A4W reactor''' is a [[United States Naval reactor|naval reactor]] used by the [[United States Navy]] to [[Nuclear marine propulsion|propel]] [[warship]]s and [[electricity generation|generate onboard electricity]].


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| publisher = [[Federation of American Scientists]]
| publisher = [[Federation of American Scientists]]
| quote = current cores for the NIMITZ Class aircraft carrier ... last on average about 20 years
| quote = current cores for the NIMITZ Class aircraft carrier ... last on average about 20 years
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060925053842/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/a4w.htm| archivedate= 25 September 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and built by [[Westinghouse Electric Company]]. Their [[Nuclear reactor core|reactor cores]] are expected to operate for about 20 years before refueling is required.<ref name="UNPS"/> The only ships to use these [[nuclear reactor]]s are the [[Nimitz class aircraft carrier|''Nimitz'']] class [[supercarrier]]s, which have two reactors rated at 550 MW<sub>th</sub> each. These [[Steam generator (nuclear power)|generate enough steam]] to produce approximately 100 MW of electricity, plus 140,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|shaft horsepower]] (104 MW) for each of the ship's four shafts – two per propulsion plant.<ref>{{cite web
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20060925053842/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/a4w.htm| archivedate= 25 September 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=June 2022}} and built by [[Westinghouse Electric Company]]. Their [[Nuclear reactor core|reactor cores]] are expected to operate for about 25 years before refueling is required.<ref name="UNPS"/> The only ships to use these [[nuclear reactor]]s are the [[Nimitz class aircraft carrier|''Nimitz'']]-class [[supercarrier]]s, which have two reactors rated at 550 MW<sub>th</sub> each. These [[Steam generator (nuclear power)|generate enough steam]] to produce 140,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|shaft horsepower]] (104 MW) for each pair of the ship's four shafts<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/index.html
| url = http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/index.html
| title = US Navy Propulsion Systems
| title = US Navy Propulsion Systems
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| publisher = [[Federation of American Scientists]]
| publisher = [[Federation of American Scientists]]
| quote = power per reactor ... 140,000 shp
| quote = power per reactor ... 140,000 shp
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061009044152/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/index.html| archivedate= 9 October 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061009044152/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/index.html| archivedate= 9 October 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> – two per propulsion plant – plus approximately 100 MW of electricity.{{Citation needed|reason=These statements are not supported by the existing references|date=June 2022}}


==See also==
==See also==
{{Wikipedia-Books|Nimitz class aircraft carriers}}
* [[A1B reactor]]
* [[A1B reactor]]
* [[Nimitz-class aircraft carrier|''Nimitz''-class aircraft carrier]]


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 14:04, 6 August 2024

The USS Carl Vinson

The A4W reactor is a naval reactor used by the United States Navy to propel warships and generate onboard electricity.

The A4W designation stands for:

  • A = Aircraft carrier platform
  • 4 = Contractor's fourth core design generation
  • W = Westinghouse, the contracted designer

History

[edit]

These nuclear fission pressurized water reactors (PWRs) were jointly designed by Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory[1][failed verification] and built by Westinghouse Electric Company. Their reactor cores are expected to operate for about 25 years before refueling is required.[1] The only ships to use these nuclear reactors are the Nimitz-class supercarriers, which have two reactors rated at 550 MWth each. These generate enough steam to produce 140,000 shaft horsepower (104 MW) for each pair of the ship's four shafts[2] – two per propulsion plant – plus approximately 100 MW of electricity.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "A4W". US Navy Propulsion Systems. Federation of American Scientists. 1999-02-27. Archived from the original on 25 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-16. current cores for the NIMITZ Class aircraft carrier ... last on average about 20 years
  2. ^ "US Navy Propulsion Systems". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-16. power per reactor ... 140,000 shp
[edit]
  • [1] (correcting for the power output from 500 megawatts to 105.)
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