Chapter one hundred and eighty first strange hidden danger
After listening to Levi's explanation, Karina K. Eddy was not completely convinced. She consulted several authoritative scholars in nuclear physics through internal authority.
However, the answers of these authoritative scholars are completely consistent with Levi's. They all said that the release of neutrons from radioactive materials is a physical law, and humans currently have no way to prevent radioactive materials from releasing neutrons.
The data is still being analyzed.
Karina K. Eddy not only investigated the situation of the nuclear reactor, but also included the crew members on the Washington, especially the crew members who had access to the reactor, and no one was left out.
They analyze and investigate every situation that may arise.
As time went by, more and more evidence showed that the crew of the Washington did not intentionally sabotage the ship.
The strange 13-minute shutdown of the reactor became the focus of this accident. Even the reactor engineer Levi Ford was puzzled as to why the reactor suddenly stalled.
Karina K. Eddie asked again: "Dr. Ford, is there really no way to temporarily stop the release of neutrons from radioactive materials?"
Despite the many doubts, Levi's Ford still insisted on his judgment: "Based on the current technology and theory, there is no relevant technology or theory."
Scientists are stubborn and will sneer unless they can provide real evidence. Apparently Levis Ford thinks he is not wrong.
The investigation reached a deadlock, and the mysterious 13-minute shutdown drove many engineers and researchers crazy.
Levis Ford continued: "Ms. Eddie, the most likely possibility now is that there may be some kind of defect in the reactor that caused this accident."
Karina K. Eddie frowned and asked: "Are you sure?"
The old-fashioned Levi's Ford replied: "Unless the Washington is salvaged and a comprehensive analysis is conducted, we can only find the existing problems by studying the black box and other aircraft carriers of the same class."
Are you crazy or am I stupid to fish it out? Karina K. Eddie secretly complained.
On the seabed more than 3,000 meters deep, we were trying to retrieve a steel warship weighing more than 100,000 tons, and a nuclear leak was occurring on the ship.
Not only is the technical difficulty very high, but the help it will bring to the investigation is also difficult to determine.
The ultra-high water pressure at the bottom of the sea has already destroyed many things inside the Washington. Who knows what will be found after spending more than a billion dollars to fish it out.
"Then use the black box and aircraft carriers of the same level to investigate and find out the problem with the reactor as soon as possible." Karina K. Eddie ordered.
"Understood, this is also a question I want to know."
…
the other side.
The salvage work of the Los Angeles black box was not going smoothly.
The Los Angeles plunged headlong into a seafloor fissure, and after being hit by a collision, the seafloor crack collapsed.
The Los Angeles was buried deep inside, and the only thing exposed outside the rocks and sand was the reactor and power system at the tail.
The terrible nuclear leak seriously interfered with the work of the scientific research submarine. Basically, the black box at the tail cannot be taken out.
The cockpit and the black box on the head were submerged by rocks, and the scientific research submarine was unable to carry out large-scale operations on the seabed.
Simon Manhattan said helplessly: "Stop the salvage work!"
Willard on the side looked disappointed, even though the local government had initially investigated some problems and initially determined that there was a defect in the nuclear reactor, which caused the sudden flameout.
But Willard's responsibility cannot be escaped. After all, if the reactor fails, the most it will do is make the USS Washington and USS Los Angeles stranded.
But if they collide with each other and sink directly, it is human responsibility.
Willard, who was taken away by the military police for investigation, estimated that his future was doomed.
Simon Manhattan stood on the deck, watching the sunset in the distance and the sparkling golden sea, bringing the last trace of warmth to the deep blue sea.
The water in the Pacific Ocean is too deep, and the wind and waves are also rough, as well as the invisible undercurrents, which make people upset.
Suddenly, a man in a black suit appeared behind him and said in a low voice and hastily: "Director Simon, there is a problem in the Gulf of Aden."
Simon Manhattan's eyes changed: "What happened?"
"The Lincoln experienced a 67-second reactor shutdown around 10 o'clock this morning."
"What?" Simon Manhattan was shocked. The Lincoln and the Washington were both Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of the 10 Nimitz-class ships currently in service.
Now that the USS Washington has sunk and the USS Enterprise is a training ship, there are only nine nuclear-powered aircraft carriers that can be mobilized.
If the Lincoln encounters another problem, defense zones everywhere will be without mobile aircraft carriers.
Yesterday, the Third Fleet temporarily dispatched the Reagan from the San Francisco base to the Seventh Fleet for support.
"Is the fault serious?" Simon Manhattan asked nervously.
"The impact is not big, but just in case, we have returned to Hong Kong for inspection."
Simon Manhattan fell silent and couldn't help but ponder. Could it be that Nimitz-class reactors really have safety hazards?
But why did it fail twice after being in service for so many years? In less than a month, it failed twice.
At the same time, the Pentagon also attaches great importance to this matter.
The company responsible for the design and construction of Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, as well as designers and engineers, were ordered to fully inspect the nine Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers currently in service.
You can't do it without checking. If it's normal sailing, you can still cope with a sudden flameout. However, if you encounter an emergency and the chain drops at a critical moment, it will really be the end of the world.
Even the Reagan, which had just sailed for two days, was ordered to return to the San Francisco base and undergo a comprehensive inspection.
Newport, Virginia.
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dockyard Company is the company that designs and builds the Nimitz class. Engineer Levi Ford had just returned to the company when he was called into the office by the president.
"Dr. Ford, take a look at this." President Johnny George handed over a document.
Levi's Ford took the document and looked at it, and immediately frowned: "Another weird automatic flameout phenomenon."
"Yeah, we're in trouble." Johnny George said with a headache.
“What’s the Pentagon’s opinion?”
Johnny George grabbed his hair and complained: "We need to eliminate the hidden dangers of the reactor within a month, otherwise we will file a claim with the company. Doctor, you know, we can't pay that much money, and the company will go bankrupt."
"One month is too short, we need at least half a year."
"I'll try to delay as much time as possible. Doctor, please take the engineers to the Gulf of Aden as soon as possible. We must find out the cause of the Lincoln reactor failure."
"..." Levi's Ford looked at the tired CEO and could only nod helplessly.
However, they did not know that this comprehensive investigation would be fruitless.
But the neutrino ghost deep in the Qinling Mountains is on the other side of the Blue Star, ready to stumble them from time to time, guaranteed to make them want to die.
As long as the activation of shielding is not too intensive, just for a month or two, these nuclear-powered aircraft carriers will be like a big aunt, and they will definitely make the opponent sleepless and eat all day long.
As for the possibility of exposure, it is actually not high.
Because neutrinos are notoriously difficult to detect, without knowing that neutrinos are shielding, the possibility of discovering a problem is slim.
On the contrary, Nether Palace has increased its internal confidentiality to ensure that no secrets will be leaked in a short period of time.