HTGR's power density is too low, never suitable to be used as the source of power of nuclear sub, the volume of the power section would occupy the most volume of the sub. Even the construction of the first demonstration reactor of HTGR for electricity generation need be finished in 2017. To use in nuclear sub the HTGR need a substantial change to increase the power density, that will take very long time.
According to the US Department of Defense's Annual Report to Congress on The Military Power of the People's Republic of China for 2010, "China is further expanding its current force of nuclear-powered attack submarines and may add up to five advanced Type 095 SSNs to the inventory in the coming years."
The 2013 edition of this report stated that "In the next decade, China will likely construct the Type 095 guided-missile attack submarine (SSGN), which may enable a submarine-based land-attack capability. In addition to likely incorporating better quieting technologies, the Type 095 will fulfill traditional anti-ship roles with the incorporation of torpedoes and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs)."
Yes the 1st and 2nd generation nuclear reactors were PWR. The development of China’s type
093 submarine started sometime in the 1980s or before. Construction of the first unit began in 1994, but it was not launched until 2002. It is speculated to be similar to a Russian
Victor III using two Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR).14 However, various sources state that the 093 has an advanced high temperature high efficiency reactor plant.15 Whatever the case, the use of the technology gained by the civilian nuclear industry has the potential to greatly improve submarines designed and built in China.
The advancement of civilian nuclear technology has most likely played a part in providing the
093 and future submarines with advanced I&C equipment, a better-designed reactor fuel cell, and higher quality construction of the reactor plant. The delays on the ship could very well have been caused by continuous attempts to update the design as construction progressed. The
093 was laid down in 1994,16 but construction began on the Qinshan 2 nuclear power plant in 1996, Qinshan 3 in 1998 17, and Ling Ao in 1995. The Yinbin Fuel Plant was upgraded in 1994,18 and from 1994 to 1996, China received the plans for the AP600 (its most advanced civilian nuclear power plant) for study.19 Thus, the nuclear technology progress during the period from 1994 to 2002 was – by any measure – very substantial. The Chinese may have made the decision early on to delay the 093 in order to incorporate the maximum amount of nuclear technology possible.
With the technology progress in the civilian sector stated above, it is at least possible that China has developed a submarine-compatible high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). This possibility is worth considering for several reasons. The first is that, if successful, a HTGR would allow for a much lighter power plant. A HTGR is twice as efficient as a PWR so it would require a substantially smaller core for the same power output. It is also cooled by helium at a relatively low pressure instead of by high-pressure water. This reduces the weight not only of the coolant but also of the piping. The reduced weight would potentially allow the submarine to be faster and smaller.
The second reason is that the Chinese have stated that their goal in designing weapons is to use the latest technology to leap ahead. Developing a unique reactor system would be a dramatic example of this policy. The research on HTGR in China started in the 1970s,20 before a substantial amount of development in the civilian nuclear power industry began; this tends to indicate that some type of military use was envisioned. This would also help to explain why it has taken so long to build the
093. The conventional theory that the
093 is similar to a Victor III design, and that the Russians assisted in its construction, by contrast, would predict rather rapid development. This, however, has not occurred, suggesting at least the possibility that there is something significantly different about this submarine.
The technical difficulties that would have to be overcome with the blowers (i.e. the need for magnetic bearings) and the fuel loading system to make a HTGR compatible with a submarine are formidable. This makes the probability of the
093 being equipped with a HTGR small. Nevertheless, it should be taken into consideration that if not the
093, then a future Chinese submarine could have a reactor of this type. Such a vessel could take a form that would represent a significant departure from current nuclear submarines that are designed for open ocean long endurance operations.
Chinese strategy for the near and medium term appears to be focused on pushing its defenses out to the first island chain, which includes Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. This will require more shallow water access denial platforms, instead of long-range open ocean submarines. A small submarine, similar to a diesel electric submarine but equipped with a small HTGR to recharge the batteries, would be an ideal sea denial platform. It could stay submerged for extended periods of time while lying in wait for a passing ship. This submarine could have technology currently available from the recently purchased
Kilo-class submarines for the batteries and propulsion while using a reactor on the scale of the HTR 10 (2500 KW generator). The reactor would have to be quiet, but a HTGR equipped with an integral gas turbine/blower outfitted with magnetic bearings could – in fact – be designed to be very quiet.
Sources
14. Jane’s Underwater Warfare Systems, “Type 093” Submarines-Submarines and Submersible Designs [on line] posted 01 March
2005, available at http://www4.janes.com/K2/doc.jsp?t=...sdata/yb/juws/juws1722.htm@current&QueryText=
%3CAND%3E%28%3COR%3E%28type+%3CAND%3E+093+%29%29&Prod_Name=JUWS& Accessed on 02 August 2005.
15. See, for example, Chinese Military Aviation, “Submarines” available at http://mil.jschina.com.cn/huitong/han_xia_kilo_song.htm
accessed on 20 July 2005.
16. Jane’s Underwater Warfare Systems, “Type 093” Submarines-Submarines and Submersible Designs [on line] posted 01 March
2005, available at http://www4.janes.com/K2/doc.jsp?t=...sdata/yb/juws/juws1722.htm@current&QueryText=
%3CAND%3E%28%3COR%3E%28type+%3CAND%3E+093+%29%29&Prod_Name=JUWS& Accessed on 02 August 2005.
17. Peigen Yu, “Qinshan NPP, Long-term plans for nuclear power in China,” Inside WANO Vol. 9, Number 2 (2001), 6.
18. AREVA, AREVA in China, Available at Operations: entire nuclear energy cycle and renewable energies - AREVA
pdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=presskit&blobwhere=1082483458312 Accessed on 5 August 2005.
19. Xu Yuanhui, “Power Plant Design; HTGR Advances in China,” Nuclear Engineering International (16 March 2005), 22, available at LexisNexis® Academic & Library Solutions Accessed on 16 May 2005.
