The 'runaway reactor' scenario that we all read about in Clancy's book is supposedly impossible in US boats. I can't speak for russian, indian, or french reactors, but the US reactors 'default' to shutdown state. They basically have to be forced into a critical state ('critical' in this case simply means running, not emergency).
I could be wrong, but that's what the nucs told me during ship's quals. Any nucs here to elaborate?
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