Tweet
Here's an interesting article on the November class variant that was built with a liquid metal reactor:
Both the US (Seawolf SSN 575) and the Russians (K-27 and the Alfa class) tried liquid metal reactors. In principle, one can obtain a higher power density from liquid metal, with increased temperatures to deliver superheated steam, while working at lower operating pressures than pressurized water reactors (PWR). In practice, liquid metal is difficult to handle and hazardous, and PWR continue to dominate submarine propulsion.
Both the US (Seawolf SSN 575) and the Russians (K-27 and the Alfa class) tried liquid metal reactors. In principle, one can obtain a higher power density from liquid metal, with increased temperatures to deliver superheated steam, while working at lower operating pressures than pressurized water reactors (PWR). In practice, liquid metal is difficult to handle and hazardous, and PWR continue to dominate submarine propulsion.