An A4W reactor is a type of nuclear reactor in use aboard the United States Navy's Nimitz-class supercarriers, capable of producing 140,000 shaft horsepower (550MW) of energy, and with a normal fuel lifespan of 10 years and a core lifespan of 50 years. The nuclear fuel was originally 93% U235, but current technology uses 20-25% U235. The fuel is not UO₂, but rather a metal-zirconium alloy. The reactor uses an internal neutron shield to maintain long term integrity. A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reactions are initiated, controlled, and sustained at a steady rate (as opposed to a nuclear explosion, where the chain reaction occurs in a split second). ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Thee Nimitz class supercarriers are the largest warships in the world. ... USS , a typical supercarrier, and HMS Illustrious, a light V/STOL aircraft carrier on a joint patrol. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... The megawatt (symbol: MW) is a unit for measuring power corresponding to one million (106) watts. ... Uranium-235 is an isotope of uranium that differs from the elements other common isotope, uranium-238, by its ability to cause a rapidly expanding fission chain reaction. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zirconium, Zr, 40 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 4, 5, d Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 91. ... An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, which has a combination of at least two metals, and where the resultant material has metallic properties. ... Properties In physics, the neutron is a subatomic particle with no net electric charge and a mass of 939. ...

The A4W reactor is the nuclear fission pressurized water reactor (PWR) design used in powering U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. It was designed jointly by Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory and General Electric Knolls Atomic Power Lab (KAPL) Division, with BAPL as the prime contractor. Sketch of induced nuclear fission, a neutron (n) strikes a uranium nucleus which splits into similar products (F. P.), and releases more neutrons to continue the process, and energy in the form of gamma and other radiation. ... A pressurized water reactor (PWR) is a type of nuclear power reactor that uses ordinary light water for both coolant and for neutron moderator. ... Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory is a U. S. Government-owned, contractor-operated research and development facility located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA, focusing on the design and development of nuclear power for the U.S. Navy. ... The General Electric Company, or GE, (NYSE: GE) is a multinational technology and services company. ...

Meaning of the name

The A4W reactor is the fourth nuclear fission reactor design for use in powering U. S. Navy aircraft carriers by a division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The A stands for aircraft carrier, 4 for 4th reactor design, and W for Westinghouse. Westinghouse logo (designed by Paul Rand) The Westinghouse Electric Company, headquartered in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is an organization founded by George Westinghouse in 1886. ...