The Canary in the Nuclear Submarine: Assessing the Nonproliferation Risk of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Loophole

ABSTRACT

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) allows states to exempt nuclear material from international safeguards for use in nuclear submarine programs. This material, however, could be diverted for nuclear weapons purposes without the knowledge of inspectors, creating a potentially dangerous loophole in the treaty. This article argues that exercising that loophole today would amount to admitting a nuclear weapon program, making it a particularly poor pathway to a weapon for a potential proliferant. Still, if states like Brazil ultimately exempt nuclear material from safeguards for a nuclear submarine effort, they could set a dangerous precedent that makes it easier for others to use the loophole as a route to a nuclear weapon capability. There are several policy options available to mitigate the damage of such a precedent; most promising is the prospect of a voluntary safeguards arrangement that would allow international inspectors to keep an eye on nuclear material even after it has been dedicated to a naval nuclear propulsion program.     

太阳能热推力器二次聚光器再生冷却过程

为克服太阳能热推力器折射式二次聚光器容易破裂的缺点,本文采用再生冷却技术,对二次聚光器与推力室进行了一体化设计,并对该过程进行了流动与传热仿真。仿真结果表明,该设计可有效地降低聚光器的工作温度至1600K以下,热应力分析表明可有效降低其破裂的可能性。同时该设计可预热推进剂至500K以上,提高了系统的能量利用效率。通过进一步对吸收腔内的热辐射分析发现,工质流动对吸收腔壁温影响较小,吸收腔壁面仍然可以维持2400-2600K的高温。     

潜艇内置推进系统水动力设计

为提高潜艇推进效率,降低潜艇阻力和噪声,提出了一种潜艇内王推进系统及其结构布局,初步建立了内置推进系统的理论分析方法和设计思路.对推进系统的管道进行了参数化设计,并借助计算流体力学软件,用体积力代替螺旋桨产生的力场,对不同管道参数下的潜艇周围及管道内部的流场进行了数值模拟,结果表明:增大管道的进口面积可以减小管道阻力,...     

外军两栖车辆水上推进装置的分类及评价

给出了当今外军典型两栖车辆的主要性能指标,对水上推进装置进行了分类,定性分析了各种水上推进装置的工作原理及主要影响因素,给出了FT-C牵引车模型的试验结果.通过对水上推进装置产生的推力和两栖车辆水上行驶的阻力分析,得出了有价值的结论.最后根据实际需求对履带划水式、喷水式、螺旋桨式3种水上推进装置进行了综合评估,其结论对新型两栖车辆的论证、研究具有借鉴作用.     

锥形液膜的Kelvin-Helmholtz扰动波

为进行锥形液膜雾化过程分析,研究锥形液膜的Kelvin-Helmholtz稳定性问题,应用小扰动假设,建立了锥形液膜数学模型、轴对称扰动运动的控制方程和边界条件,采用分离变量法求解线性偏微分扰动方程组,经过严格的数学推导,得到了锥形液膜内外表面扰动波增长速率特征方程.当液膜锥角为零时,与环形液膜扰动波特征方程一致;当液膜锥角和液膜内径为零时,与圆射流扰动波特征方程一致,表明导出的锥形液膜扰波动方程是合理的.     

A Novel Framework for Safeguarding Naval Nuclear Material

ABSTRACT

The present international standard allows non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS) to forego safeguards when nuclear material is used in a “non-proscribed military activity,” though no criteria have been established to determine when NNWS can remove naval nuclear material from safeguards. Though at present, only nuclear-armed states possess nuclear submarines, the global nuclear naval landscape may soon change with the advancement of Brazil's fledgling program and the possible precedent it would set for other NNWS. A framework is needed to shore up nuclear security and prevent nuclear material diversion from the nuclear naval sector. Proposed and existing nonproliferation frameworks, including a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and commitments through the nuclear security summits, are insufficient to close this loophole. A Naval Use Safeguards Agreement (NUSA), modeled after the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency, would provide a framework to remove the opacity surrounding nuclear material in the naval sector. Designed for NNWS and encouraged as confidence-building measures for nuclear weapon states, NUSA would explicitly outline those stages in the naval nuclear fuel cycle where safeguards are to be applied and in what context. This viewpoint also further provides direction for targeted research and development in technical naval nuclear safeguards solutions.     

空间推进系统工作过程的模块化建模

建立空间推进系统仿真模块(包括液体管道模块、三通模块、充填模块、推力室模块等)的数学模型.虽然采用的是集中参数方法,但同时考虑了液体的惯性、粘性和压缩性,所以本文建立的常微分方程组能在一定程度上反映供应系统工作过程的分布特性.     

镁基水反应金属燃料及水冲压发动机初步试验

通过热力学计算预估水冲压发动机的性能,确定了燃料配方,并研制出试验用镁基水反应金属燃料。成功进行了水冲压发动机原理样机热试车,对水冲压发动机及其燃料的性能进行了初步研究。     

泵喷推进型潜艇电场防护效果与阴极保护性能分析

为探究泵喷推进型潜艇在电场防护和外加电流阴极保护这两种典型工作形态下的防护效果,采用边界元法建立了此型潜艇的腐蚀相关静电场模型,仿真分析了导流罩和导叶对电场防护与阴极保护效能的影响。结果表明:相较于传统推进方式,泵喷推进型潜艇在海水中电场峰峰值降低了约38%,且其仅需约50%的电流值便能达到更优的电场防护效果。此外,不论阴极保护过程中整艇涂层是否完好,泵喷推进装置处的电场峰值均有一定程度的降低,这表明泵喷推进装置具有更好的电场隐身性能;然而在对泵喷推进型潜艇外加电流阴极保护的过程中,只能在船身和大轴处达到较好的保护效果,其导流罩内部的叶轮和导叶难以达到保护电位,处于欠保护状态,局部腐蚀防护仍需加强。     

高空长航时太阳能飞机研究进展与技术挑战

高空长航时太阳能飞机是当前的前沿热点方向,可实现月量级的长期驻空,并形成“时间持久+区域保持”的新型应用能力。系统总结了高空长航时太阳能飞机三阶段发展历程,包括初期探索阶段、快速发展阶段、实用能力验证与应用示范阶段,重点阐述国外典型发展计划,深入分析气动布局设计、储能电池、高空推进、大尺度结构、飞行控制等面临的主要技术挑战,并提出重点攻关方向建议,为高空长航时太阳能飞机创新发展提供参考。