News about HMS Tireless accident (LOCA)

[LEONAM]

Dear Colleagues:
You could find some interesting information about the small LOCA occured september last year in HMS Tireless, british nuclear attack submarine Swiftsure Class, at

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/cndscot/news/001027a.html

Thanks for your attention,

Leonam BRAZIL! OWN TECHNOLOGY IS INDEPENDENCE!

 

Q. I believe this happened on the USS Enterprise in the 60's or 70's. I don't remember. I'm not sure about the Brits but the Americans admitted they were unsure of the extent of the accident at the time. The short term solution, mainly because the "E" was at sea, was 'keep a chargin' boys till the ocean drys up'.

 

[oldnuke]

Pressurizer Surge Line weld crack seems to be what they saw. Pressurizer Surge Lines experience cyclic temperature changes due to the difference in temperature between the pressurizer and primary coolant system. The weld adds to the stress. I don't remember US Navy reactors having Surge Line cracks, but Pressurizer Heater Well leaks were common in the 70's and 80's. British subs are essentially S5W plants, identical to what I was trained on in the 70's and most subs of that vintage were powered with.