Free Web NovelChapter 1070: Chapter 530: Nuclear-Powered Technology_2
Although Zhao Yi only said a few words, each one must have been crucial, or Academician Chen Zeshu would not have shown such a response.
So... simple?
For Zhao Yi, it truly was very simple; but for them, the ’ordinary people’, it was as difficult as reaching the heavens.
The former is correct.
In Zhao Yi’s view it was indeed very simple, for one, because the input shielding pump already had a foundational design, overcoming some technical challenges.
Secondly, there are more advanced and complete technologies internationally.
After using the "Supervision Law" and the "Derivation Law", he hardly spent any energy before he pinpointed the deficiencies in the design.
In fact, there’s another important reason, the design for the transmission pressure pump is indeed simple, and in terms of complexity, it doesn’t even compare to an industrial spindle. The difficulties encountered are only in design.
As long as the issue isn’t a fundamental theory or an extremely complicated design, for him, it can all be categorized as ’simple’.
...
In the afternoon.
The anti-gravity flying device team saw Academician Chen Zeshu once again.
The elderly academician looked somewhat exhausted, but his eyes were spirited, and upon seeing Zhao Yi, he walked right over, grasping both hands with eagerness, saying, "Academician Zhao! You truly live up to your reputation! Everyone says you’re a genius, but only now do I understand, it’s not just genius, it’s almost divine!"
"Your suggestions were spot on, after two hours of deliberation, we found that theoretically, the design has completely met the standards!"
"The next step is to move on to manufacturing and testing."
"This nuclear reactor’s supporting technology, it’s like we’ve already overcome half the battle; what remains now is just a matter of time."
"When the work is reported, Academician Zhao, rest assured, you will certainly be credited!"
Zhao Yi spoke without much concern, "As long as it was helpful, that’s all that matters. It’s no issue."
He truly didn’t care.
Zhao Yi’s accomplishments are too many; one less or one more small achievement makes no difference to him whatsoever.
After that, Chen Zeshu became even more enthusiastic. He knew the purpose of the anti-gravity flying device team was to see if nuclear technology could be applied to large machinery and equipment.
Although he didn’t know the specifics of the equipment, the anti-gravity flying device team’s concern for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers suggested they were looking at a similar type of military propulsion nuclear reactor, and just so... frёeωebɳovel.com
The nuclear institute had no mature technologies in this regard.
This was not embarrassing.
The whole world knew that it was impossible for the country to have related mature technology, and Chen Zeshu also began discussing the issue of developing nuclear power installations for aircraft carriers.
What was discussed in the morning as supporting technology had turned into core technology by the afternoon.
Nuclear reactors for aircraft carriers theoretically pose no difficulty; domestically, control over nuclear reactor technology was not limited to a single type, but extended to several hundred types.
Among these, those actually applied in practice included large nuclear power plants and military nuclear submarines, and there was also certain exploration and coverage in civilian nuclear reactor technology.
"The main issues for developing the nuclear power installations for aircraft carriers now are twofold: one is power output, and the other is enrichment."
"The technology we currently possess is either lacking in power output or deficient in enrichment, the latter being the more serious issue."
Chen Zeshu explained. ƒreewebɳovel.com
While there are many types of nuclear reactors, their ultimate goal is power output, and when actually employed, another aspect is critical—
Life span!
If a nuclear reactor needs to be maintained frequently, it certainly can’t be used for military purposes, and what determines ’service life’ is enrichment, referring to the enrichment of ’nuclear fuel’.
"The ’enrichment’ of nuclear fuel refers to the concentration of nuclear substances in the fuel. The higher the enrichment of nuclear fuel, the greater the amount of heat released during a nuclear reaction and the longer its service life.
According to international standards, nuclear fuel with an enrichment level below twenty percent is considered civil-grade for nuclear reactors.
To guarantee absolute safety, all nuclear power plant reactors use low-enriched uranium-235, with an enrichment level of about two to five percent, ensuring that under no circumstances could a nuclear explosion occur.
Therefore, every time a nuclear power plant leakage incident is discovered, it is only a leak of radioactive substances, not an explosion like an atomic bomb.
An enrichment level greater than twenty percent is considered military-grade, and greater than eighty-five percent can be used for making nuclear bombs.
"Now our nuclear reactor technology either has insufficient enrichment or lacks power."
"Therefore, our research on nuclear reactors for aircraft carriers is focusing on two directions: increasing the power of small reactors used in submarines, and increasing the enrichment of high-power reactors."
"The former is very difficult."
"And the latter is equally difficult."
Chen Zeshu concluded with the word ’difficult’ twice, indicating the magnitude of the technical challenges.
The power of small reactors used in submarines is fundamentally different from those used for aircraft carriers. Decades ago, many countries hoped to install small reactors used in submarines onto large aircraft carriers, and had been conducting relevant research ever since.
Continuing similar studies now, the chances of developing something successful are extremely slim.
Enhancing the enrichment of fuel in high-power reactors must be better than ’decades without international results’ in research.
Of course, the difficulty is also very high.
For example, the high-power reactors used in nuclear power stations are theoretically adequate for large aircraft carriers, but their enrichment is only less than ten percent, which means that the fuel needs to be replaced every few years.
For large aircraft carriers, replacing the fuel is akin to rebuilding, and the exorbitant maintenance costs and time investment are simply unsustainable.
In comparison, the A4W reactor in M Country’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers has a fuel enrichment level of up to sixty percent, meaning that it can operate continuously for over twenty years. Within the service lifetime of an aircraft carrier, only one or two fuel changes are necessary, which is very efficient.
The A1B pressurized water reactor used in the currently built "Ford-class" nuclear-powered aircraft carriers has an unprecedented fuel enrichment level of ninety-seven percent, which theoretically means that the carriers can operate without changing fuel for their entire service life, with the fuel installed at the time of construction and never needing replacement.
Chen Zeshu talked about many things.
Zhao Yi also heard a lot, but his conclusion was different from what Chen Zeshu said. He concluded that there are many types of nuclear reactors and many technologies, leading to many possible research directions.
Although Chen Zeshu considered increasing the enrichment of high-power reactors a decent approach, his tone wasn’t entirely certain. In other words, pursuing higher enrichment for high-power reactors was also just a result of discussions by the research group at the nuclear institute.
What if it was wrong?
Before a technological breakthrough is achieved, no one dares to say that the chosen direction is correct.
The others were slightly disappointed.
They visited the nuclear institute not to research nuclear reactor technology but ended up with the conclusion that there was ’no mature, usable technology,’ which was naturally disappointing.
Although they had anticipated this before coming, deep down, they were still disappointed.
Chen Zeshu didn’t give a definitive answer on when the technology for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier propulsion might be available, meaning that even the future was not something to look forward to.
The anti-gravity vehicle team started discussing whether it’s possible to use low-enrichment, high-power reactors, but the final conclusion was, of course, ’not possible.’
Without a doubt, the power requirements for a sky fortress, as well as considering future service, would definitely exceed those of a large aircraft carrier.
If nuclear propulsion technology can’t fulfill the needs of a large aircraft carrier, it’s even less likely to meet the power requirements of a sky fortress.
Zhao Yi, however, wasn’t disappointed. He wasn’t part of the anti-gravity vehicle team. Although he discovered anti-gravity, he only provided theories and technology. Designing the sky fortress wasn’t his job.
This time, his purpose was to understand more about nuclear-related theories and technologies, which might help him improve the Boundary Theory and decipher the divine code.
After the anti-gravity vehicle team left, Zhao Yi stayed behind. He decided to spend a few days discussing nuclear physics issues with a few nuclear experts at the institute.
