Is a submarine Caterpillar drive possible?

All you need is a battery, a magnet, and some wires to build your own quasi-fictional submarine drive. In the story, the Russians build a so-called “caterpillar drive” using hydro-magneto power instead of the traditional propeller. …

Are submarines more efficient above or below water?

Which is faster? A submarine meets more resistance under-water as opposed to on the surface, as on the surface a small fraction of the hull surface is meeting against air resistance instead of water resistance. This does not, however, mean that a submarine travels faster on the surface.

Are subs faster underwater?

Yes, as Larry has succinctly pointed out with a neat cross reference, the modern submarine travels faster underwater than on the surface. The use of a single mode of propulsion and a hull form optimised for underwater travel has brought this about.

How does a nuclear powered submarine work?

In a nuclear-powered submarine, reactor heat produces steam to drive the turbines that provide the submarine’s actual power.” Sea water is pumped into the boat and desalinated to create the steam used to drive the turbines.

What happens in plant state a of a submarine?

In the normal sea-going state, Plant State A, the submarine’s pressurized water reactor (PWR) operates at high temperature and pressure. It is in this state that a catastrophic rupture of the plant pipework is most likely to happen, leading to a reactor accident.

Who built the nuclear reactor for the Skate class submarines?

After the Skate-class vessels, reactor development proceeded and in the USA a single series of standardised designs was built by both Westinghouse and GE, one reactor powering each vessel. Rolls Royce built similar units for the UK Royal Navy submarines and then developed the design further to the PWR-2.

How many nuclear powered submarines are in the United States?

By 2010, The United Stated had built 219 nuclear powered vessels. A nuclear reactor can last 33 years without refueling, which greatly changed how long submarines could stay in service compared to their diesel ancestors.