The D2G reactor was a naval reactor used by the United States Navy to provide electricity generation and propulsion on warships. The D2G designation stands for:
- D = Destroyer platform
- 2 = Second generation core designed by the contractor
- G = General Electric was the contracted designer
History
This model of nuclear reactor was installed on the Bainbridge, Truxtun, California, and Virginia classes of guided missile cruisers. The only nuclear-powered cruiser in the United States Navy not equipped with a D2G reactor was the world's first nuclear cruiser, the USS Long Beach (CGN-9), which used a C1W reactor.[1]
It is known that USS Bainbridge's reactors were refueled three times, and USS Truxtun's were refueled twice.[1]
Operation
The Bainbridge, Truxtun, California and Virginia class ships all used two of the D2G reactors, each rated for a maximum thermal output of 148 megawatts (198,000 hp), with two steam turbines which drove two shafts, each generating between 30,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW) and 35,000 shaft horsepower (26,000 kW).[2][1] Each D2G reactor was 37 feet (11 m) long, 31 feet (9.4 m) wide, and weighed 1,400 tonnes (1,400 long tons; 1,500 short tons). One reactor was located in the aft of the hull, the other in the fore. The California class' reactors were replaced by D2W reactors, both rated at 165 megawatts (221,000 hp), in the early 90s.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Lobner, Peter. "60 Years of Marine Nuclear Power: 1955 – 2015" (PDF). Lyceans.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "US Nuclear Propulsion". Retrieved 18 April 2017.