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It is true that Enterprise has 8 reactors, but I have not heard that it ever got down to one operating reactor. I served on board Enterprise (albeit not in the reactor department) from 1967-69, at the tail end of a fuel cycle (I left the ship as is pulled into Norfolk for its second refueling). The reactor officer was a friend of mine and so I knew something about how the reactors were operating, since the fuel was nearing the end of its useful life he had to nurse the reactors with some care. If they were put under much stress the xenon fraction in the fuel rods would zoom up and the reactors could scram due to the high neutron capture x-section of xenon, so our maneuvering was somewhat limited, and all major power changes had to be scheduled in advance so as to avoid the xenon effect. But I do not believe that any of the reactors ever shut down other than intentionally while I was on board. This may have happened either before or after my time, but not while I was there.
Perhaps civilian power plant owners and operators could get help from
the US Navy. The USS Enterprise has 8 reactors but has been down to 1
operating reactor while at sea. There are problems getting a ship that
size in and out of port in Hawaii without the pipes that supply water to
cool the steam getting clogged. So it is possible to have a "self
contained" pressurized water reactor. Is there a technical reason this
can't be done with a boiling water reactor (as opposed to greed or poor
design)?
Apparently the US is going to be spared its own reactor/cooling pond
meltdown at Browns Ferry following shutdown after tornadoes went through
Alabama last week. Two sources of offsite power have been restored. The
reactors may be shutdown for 2-3 more weeks while the power lines are
repaired so the reactors can supply power to Alabama.