Poster nuclear reactor K15

The K15 is a type of pressurized water reactor - nuclear boiler - with a thermal power of 150 megawatts designed by the TechnicAtome company in the early 1980s to equip nuclear submarines of the Le Triomphant class.

It was developed after tests at the Cadarache center on a prototype on land: the new generation reactor.

Compared to the reactors of the Le Redoutable class nuclear submarines, the K15 is more compact because the steam generator is located just above the reactor core, which limits the risk of rupture of the core-steam generator link. old so-called “loop” reactors.

The K15, equips the following French nuclear powered ships:

-The Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines (ANS)

-The nuclear missile launching submarines (SNLE) of the Le Triomphant class: Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant, Le Terrible

-The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is fitted with two K15 reactors (Adytom and Xena), designed for submarines. They are monitored by two teams of around ten people, installed in two separate control rooms.

Note also the existence of the test reactor on land (RES) which is a modified version of the K15 type reactors.