Answers to Submarine Mystery Questions of the Week (from 03 MAR 2011)

Background

Nuclear subs like their conventional counterparts utilize fluorescent lighting for general illumination. This has been true since the first U.S. nuclear sub, USS Nautilus (SSN-574), was launched over fifty-seven years ago. Anyone who has worked or lived in an environment of fluorescent tube lighting is probably aware of some major pros and cons.

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Supplemental Note: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF GERMANY banned the use of cool-white fluorescent tubes on the basis that continued was harmful to the state of the nations health, particularly the workforce.

The AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT also recommends exclusive use of full-spectrum lighting in workplaces.

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Mystery Questions of the Week ANSWERs: Kudos to Cookie..... , who got them right!

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1) - Name 2 advantages of flourescent lighting over incandescent: a) Lower energy to lumens produced ratio; and, b) better visible light spectrum.

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2) - Name 3 disadvantages of flourescents tubes in a submarine environment: a) mercury content requires storage of spent tubes for proper disposal; b) storage of spare and spent tubes requires space that is always scarce; c) tubes are fragile (requiring protection from onboard breakage); d) changing out flourescent tubes or starters on a submarine is relatively labor intensive; and e) an audible noise (hum) is sometimes present.

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3) - Identify an available alternative source of general illumination for the submarine environment. Ans: Solid state lighting (SSL); LED fixtures consume 1/2 the power of existing submarine bunk lights, for instance; are quiet, have a longer operating life, and are easier to store and dispose since they contain no hazardous materials, like mercury.

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4) - How many commissioned Navy subs currently use the type of illumination identified in 3), and how long has the innovative illumination been installed in any commissioned submarine? Ans: USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) for 1 month (since late January 2011). In July, USS New Mexico (SSN 779) is also scheduled . These submarines will serve as pilot platforms to enable the Navy to measure savings achieved from SSL.

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Submarines are always silent and strange.