New Nuclear SMR-Powered Ships Project from 2024

KRISO announced the launch of a new research program to develop core technologies for small modular reactors, SMR-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms.

SMR Concept

The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) announced on April 16 that it has launched a new research program aimed at developing core technologies for small modular reactor (SMR)-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms from this year through 2028.

SMRs, a zero-carbon emission energy source, are drawing a lot of attention as a clean energy source along with renewable energy around the world as an alternative to realize carbon neutrality and address energy problems in the international community. It is expected to come in handy in various fields such as power generation, hydrogen production, district heating, and freshwater production.

SMRs are small reactors with a generating capacity of 300 MWe or less. They are designed to be modularized manufactured in factories and assembled on site. This way the SMR construction periods and costs can be reduced, compared to existing large nuclear power plants.

In addition, SMRs are highly economical because they do not require large storage tanks such as hydrogen tanks and have the advantage of reducing radiation emergency planning areas.

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SMR-Powered Ships

In view of the above, the applicability of SMRs as the main power source for ships is on the uptick in the shipping industry. KRISO is developing a high-speed neo-Panamax SMR-Powered container ship (up to 15,000 TEU).

KRISO will develop core technologies for SMR-powered ships, including a conceptual design of an SMR-powered ship and the development of a framework for integrated ship-nuclear power safety analysis, as well as the design of thrusters and the conceptual design of propulsion systems for SMR-powered ships.

In addition, KRISO will design a floating SMR power generation platform, a nuclear power plant on the sea, to develop stable power generation in a highly variable offshore environment and prepare a commercialization model that can supply power to island areas that need stable power supply in the future to create opportunities for SMR commercialization at sea.

KRISO expects that electric power generated by the SMR power generation platform can also be utilized as an energy source for the production of eco-friendly alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.

Source

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The transformational impact of nuclear propulsion on the design, operation, and emissions of a 14k TEU container vessel and a 157k DWT Suezmax tanker have been modeled by ABS and Herbert Engineering Corp. (HEC) in a groundbreaking study.

ABS commissioned HEC to carry out the study to explore the potential of advanced modern reactor technology for commercial marine propulsion. The study is designed to help the industry better understand the feasibility and safety implications of nuclear propulsion and to support future development projects.

The study, which involved input from leading nuclear reactor developers, modeled the impact of two, lead-cooled, 30MW fast reactors on the container carrier, finding it would likely increase cargo capacity and operational speed while eliminating the need for refueling during its entire 25-year lifespan. On the Suezmax vessel, the study found the addition of four, 5MW, heat-pipe microreactors, while decreasing cargo capacity, would raise operational speeds and only require refueling once during its 25-year life. Both concept vessels would emit zero CO2.

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