179: Chapter 179 Who says we can't build a nuclear aircraft carrier?!

Changxing Shipyard.

These past few days, the construction of the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier has been proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Xu Hao went to the workshop every day to answer questions and resolve doubts for everyone.

"Engineer Xu, you mentioned in the design proposal that High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors can adopt multiple fuel cycle modes, allowing for transitions between different cycles without having to replace the reactor core structure."

"Why is that? Generally speaking, doesn't every type of cycle require a replacement of the reactor core structure?"

Engineer Fang Yuan asked.

Standing beside him were Yang Xingguo, Li Ping, Xu Jianshu, Jin Lexian, and others.

Meanwhile.

The members of their team also gathered in a circle to listen to Xu Hao's explanations.

Now, hearing Engineer Fang Yuan ask this question...

...the team members who didn't quite understand the issue all turned their eyes toward Xu Hao.

"That's a good question."

Xu Hao nodded, affirming the question raised by Engineer Fang Yuan.

Then, he replied:

"Just as you said, following general logic, every cycle should involve a replacement of the reactor core structure."

Engineer Fang Yuan nodded.

This was exactly a knowledge point he had seen in a book.

However, in the design proposal provided by Engineer Xu, things were different.

Xu Hao continued his explanation.

"Actually, your theoretical knowledge isn't wrong, but you've overlooked the role of Coated Fuel Particles."

"Coated particles can be applied to various fissile and fertile materials; their volume, size, arrangement, carbon-to-uranium ratio, uranium-to-thorium ratio, and non-uniformity can all vary within a wide range."

"This is something other reactors don't have."

"It is precisely because of this unique attribute that High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors can achieve multiple cycle modes without needing to replace the core structure every time."

After Xu Hao finished speaking, Engineer Fang Yuan first took notes in his notebook and then fell into thought.

After about dozens of seconds, he finally showed an expression of sudden realization.

His furrowed brows also smoothed out.

"Oh! So that's how it is, I understand now!"

He nodded.

"What about you guys? Do you understand?"

Hearing that Engineer Fang Yuan understood, Xu Hao looked over at Yang Xingguo, Li Ping, and the others.

Yang Xingguo: "Understood, thank you, Engineer Xu!"

Li Ping scratched his head, "I still don't quite get some parts."

"But I've taken notes; I'll digest them later."

Seeing this, Xu Hao nodded and didn't elaborate further on this issue.

"Alright, that's all for today's Q&A session."

Xu Hao let out a long breath, concluding today's routine explanation session.

After the formal session ended, Engineer Fang Yuan and the others put down their notebooks and chatted with Xu Hao about other topics.

"Engineer Xu, did you see the hot search on Weibo a few days ago?"

Engineer Fang Yuan looked full of interest.

Hearing this, the eyes of Yang Xingguo, Xu Jianshu, and the others also lit up.

"What hot search?"

Xu Hao asked.

These past few days, he had been busy organizing documents for the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier and preparing to start designing the blueprints for the J-35A carrier-based aircraft, so he hadn't paid much attention to international affairs.

Not to mention following the news, he didn't even have time to play games.

He hadn't played Yao-mei for several days...

Xu Hao felt miserable in his heart: "Day three of missing Yao-mei, so sad..."

Hearing that Xu Hao didn't know, Engineer Fang Yuan immediately explained:

"The intelligence department of the USA used some unknown means to find out that we are building an aircraft carrier."

"However, their information isn't very accurate; they only know we're building an aircraft carrier but don't know it's a nuclear-powered one."

"This triggered heated discussions among netizens, saying that our country's fourth aircraft carrier is still conventionally powered."

In the past, he would have been very angry seeing such comments.

But since following Xu Hao and receiving his guidance and education, Engineer Fang Yuan's character had improved significantly.

He had become more steady and restrained.

Therefore.

After seeing these comments, instead of feeling angry, he had a mindset of 'watching a clown's performance.'

Xu Jianshu chimed in as well, looking like he was enjoying the gossip.

"Exactly, exactly. There are even biased experts writing long essays, belittling Dragon Country's nuclear technology and shamelessly claiming that even with another few decades, Dragon Country won't be able to build a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier."

"Hahaha... seeing this brickpert, I just want to laugh!"

Xu Jianshu wasn't just wanting to laugh; he was already laughing.

He was a genuine 5G surfing youth, and his favorite thing was to follow the gossip.

He had read all of that brickpert's blog posts.

The entire piece emphasized one point: belittle, belittle, and belittle Dragon Country further.

Then, with a turn of the conversation, it mentioned that the USA has as many as eleven Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carriers, each being the strongest existence on the Blue Planet.

And so on.

Xu Hao originally thought the hot search they were talking about was some other important scientific research topic, but he didn't expect it to be this.

Actually, he really had accidentally noticed this topic.

After all, the popularity was too high; it was on every social media platform, making it hard to miss.

"Oh, you're talking about this?" Xu Hao said with realization.

"Engineer Xu saw it too?"

Engineer Fang Yuan and Xu Jianshu asked curiously.

Xu Hao nodded.

"Don't pay too much attention to these kinds of comments aimed at gaining traffic and gimmicks. To put it nicely, they're marketing accounts chasing traffic; to put it bluntly, they're just internet beggars."

Xu Hao shook his head, looking indifferent.

Then, he thought of the young people before him, all students who had just recently started scientific research work.

After a pause, he added:

"You must remember, as scientific researchers, we shouldn't blindly listen to what others say; more importantly, we must ask ourselves what we should do!"

"Learning while thinking and doing is the basic professional quality of a researcher."

Engineer Fang Yuan and the others nodded, listening intently to Xu Hao.

Xu Hao continued his advice.

"Though the road is long and obstructed, persistence will lead to the destination; if one keeps going without stopping, the future is promising."

"You are all the future of Dragon Country and the hope of the nation. Never give up because of some comments or failures."

"The path of scientific research is full of thorns. You must strictly adhere to your original intention, remain patient, be determined, and complete every experiment and task with dedication."

"Do not take things lightly; treat every detail with a rigorous attitude."

At this point, Xu Hao looked at the sky outside the workshop and let out a sigh.

"You should know that in the past, Dragon Country was destitute and had nothing."

"Everything started from scratch."

"The Mushroom Clouds, the Cannons of Truth—weren't all these things built only after our predecessors spent countless days and nights of painstaking effort, stroke by stroke?"

"The pass is as formidable as iron, but today we stride across it from the very start!"

"I hope you will work together with me and countless other scientific researchers. For the bright tomorrow of Dragon Country, let's strive together!"

After Xu Hao finished speaking, thunderous applause immediately erupted in the workshop.

Engineer Fang Yuan and the others were deeply shaken by Xu Hao's words.

The hot blood in their hearts completely boiled at this moment!