Floating Nuclear Power Plants

[pmaitra]

Floating Nuclear Power Plants

In Russia, a Push for Floating Nuclear Power Plants

Excerpt:

The concept has some people screaming about "floating Chernobyls," but the technology is safer than that. For one thing, the portable reactors are fairly proven hardware, derived from those used on the icebreakers. And while any nuclear reactor poses real dangers if something goes wrong, the FNPPs are comparative pipsqueaks — their 35 MW output only a fraction of the Chernobyl plant's 4,000. A prototype vessel has already been launched at a St. Petersburg shipyard; after reactors are affixed it will be towed to Vilyuchinsk, a city (pop. 25,000) in the Russian Far East that is home to a squadron of nuclear submarines. It is expected to be operational in 2012.

By Ken Stier
Time | Friday, Nov. 12, 2010
Read more: In Russia, a Push for Floating Nuclear Power Plants - TIME

[HR][/HR]

Russia builds first floating nuclear plant

Akademik Lomonosov «Академик Ломоносов»
Source: Akademik Lomonosov - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sob]

Forget about the normal fission based reactors with it's share of headaches of safety and fuel subsidy.

Accelerator-driven Nuclear Energy | Accelerator Driven Systems | Transmutation

Accelerator-driven systems

High-current, high-energy accelerators or cyclotrons are able produce neutrons from heavy elements by spallation. A number of research facilities exist which explore this phenomenon, and there are plans for much larger ones. In this process, a beam of high-energy protons (usually >500 MeV) is directed at a high-atomic number target (e.g. tungsten, tantalum, depleted uranium, thorium, zirconium, lead, lead-bismuth, mercury) and up to one neutron can be produced per 25 MeV of the incident proton beam. (These numbers compare with 200-210 MeV released by the fission of one uranium-235 or plutonium-239 atomb.) A 1000 MeV beam will create 20-30 spallation neutrons per proton.

The spallation neutrons have only a very small probability of causing additional fission events in the target. However, the target still needs to be cooled due to heating caused by the accelerator beam.

If the spallation target is surrounded by a blanket assembly of nuclear fuel, such as fissile isotopes of uranium or plutonium (or thorium-232 which can breed to U-233), there is a possibility of sustaining a fission reaction. This is described as an accelerator-driven system (ADS)c. In such a system, the neutrons produced by spallation would cause fission in the fuel, assisted by further neutrons arising from that fission. Up to 10% of the neutrons could come from the spallation, though it would normally be less, with the rest of the neutrons arising from fission events in the blanket assembly. An ADS can only run when neutrons are supplied to it because it burns material which does not have a high enough fission-to-capture ratio for neutrons to maintain a fission chain reaction. One then has a nuclear reactor which could be turned off simply by stopping the proton beam, rather than needing to insert control rods to absorb neutrons and make the fuel assembly subcritical. Because they stop when the input current is switched off, accelerator-driven systems are seen as safer than normal fission reactors.

Indian scientists are also hard at work on this and we may see a big breakthrough in the next year or two.

 

[sob]

The US DOE is heavily funding the research in this new technology which has the potential to change the energy scenario in a major way.

A New Accelerator to Study Steps on the Path to Fusion « Berkeley Lab News Center

The just-completed NDCX-II, the second generation Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), is an unusual special-purpose particle accelerator built by DOE's Heavy Ion Fusion Science Virtual National Laboratory (HIFS VNL), whose member institutions are Berkeley Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

NDCX-II is a compact machine designed to produce a high-quality, dense beam that can rapidly deliver a powerful punch to a solid target. Research with NDCX-II will make advances in the acceleration, compression, and focusing of intense ion beams that can inform and guide the design of major components for heavy-ion fusion energy production.

The eventual goal of heavy-ion fusion is to produce electrical power with particle accelerators through a process called inertial confinement fusion. Heavy-ion fusion is a particularly promising method of accessing this inherently clean and virtually limitless source of energy, fueled by naturally occurring hydrogen isotopes.

 

[amoy]

China to develop floating nuclear power plant
27 October 2015

The UK-based Lloyd's Register Energy and the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC), a subsidiary to China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), have signed a "major cooperation framework agreement for a first-of-a-kind floating nuclear vessel" that will be used in Chinese waters to supply electrical power to offshore installations. Lloyd's Register Energy said in a statement that it would assist in the design and development of a "safe and secure floating vessel" containing a small modular reactor (SMR).

The first contract under the framework agreement is to develop new nuclear safety regulations, safety guidelines and nuclear code and standards for the floating NPP (FNPP) that are consistent with offshore and international marine regulations and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear safety standards. Lloyd's Register Energy helps clients design, construct and operate capital intensive assets to their highest levels of safety and performance, said nuclear director Mark Bassett. He said NPIC has asked Lloyds Register Energy to help them safely achieve this "technically challenging" offshore nuclear programme.

Melvin Zhang, Lloyd's Register Energy's vice-president of strategic development for Greater China, said the agreement marks the beginning of a ground-breaking initiative for the Chinese nuclear industry, taking nuclear power generation offshore. He said the project will show how nuclear power can be used and applied to support sustainable power generation in both energy and marine sectors. NPIC said it believes there is "substantial opportunity" to further efforts in developing power generation for the future. This is just one example of how NPIC is seeking to innovate and apply new ways of using nuclear technology for robust power supply.

NPIC designed and built China's first pressurised water reactor, its first high flux reactor, its first pulse reactor, as well as the Min Jiang Test Reactor. NPIC is involved in reactor design and safety research, and produces medical isotopes.

The FNPP will be based on a 100MWe marine version of CNNC's ACP100 SMR design, an integrated pressurized water reactor with passive safety features, which has been under development since 2010. The preliminary design was completed in 2014. The ACP100 is a multi-purpose reactor designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination.

China announced in June plans to put a FNPP into commercial operation by 2019. NPIC chief designer Song Danrong said station will have a 100MWe reactor unit of the domestic ACP100S design. The basic design will be completed in 2016, the project design will be ready in 2017 and the vessel carrying the station prepared, with the aim of completing the main component installation in 2018 and commercial operation in 2019, Song said. The station will be used to supply power to remote offshore areas or for deep-sea oil exploration projects. The demonstration project is expected to cost about CNY3.5bn (about $560m).

CNNC New Energy Corporation, a joint venture of CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corp, is planning to build two ACP100 units in Putian county, Zhangzhou city, at the south of Fujian province, near Xiamen, as a demonstration plant.

In April, CNNC signed an agreement with the IAEA for a Generic Reactor Safety Review (GRSR) of the ACP100 which will review the completely- or partially-developed safety cases of new reactor designs that are not yet at the licensing stage. The review was scheduled to begin in July and expected to take seven months to complete.

Russia is expected to provide some technical assistance. In June 2014, Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, signed a memorandum of intent with CNNC New Energy Corporation to design and build FNPPs and to promote small reactor technologies. Currently, the only FNPP nearing commissioning is the Akademik Lomonosov, under construction at the Baltiysky Zavod in St Petersburg.

The vessel has two 35MWe reactors, based on those used to propel icebreakers, which are mounted on a barge to be moored at a harbour. Akademik Lomonosov is on schedule for delivery to Russian nuclear power plant operator Rosenergoatom in September 2016 for operation off the coast Chukotka in the northeast Arctic in 2017 or 2018. In late June, Rusatom Overseas (a branch of Rosatom) and China's CNNC New Energy signed a memorandum for building floating nuclear power plants. In July 2014, a Chinese visited Russia's FNPP Training Centre and the Baltiysky Zavod and met with members of the FNPP construction project team.

 

[amoy]

ACPR50S small reactors developed by CGN to be operational by 2020

ACPR small modular PWRs
Not to be outdone by CNNC in the small modular field, CGN has two small ACPR designs: an ACPR100 and an ACPR50S, both with passive cooling for decay heat and 60-year design life. Both have standard type fuel assemblies and fuel enriched to <5% with burnable poison giving 30 month refueling. The ACPR100 is an integral PWR, 450 MWt, 140 MWe, having 69 fuel assemblies. Reactor pressure vessel is 17m high and 4.4 m inside diameter, operating at 310°C. It is designed as a module in larger plant and would be installed underground.

The offshore ACPR50S is 200 MWt, 60 MWe with 37 fuel assemblies and two loops feeding four external steam generators. Reactor pressure vessel is 7.4m high and 2.5 m inside diameter, operating at 310°C. It is designed for mounting on a barge as floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) or possible submersible. The applications for these are similar to those for the ACP100, but the timescale is longer and none is expected on line before 2023.


China to Build First Marine Nuclear Power Platform
2016-01-10 19:05:17

A model of China's first marine nuclear power platform. [Photo: china.com.cn]

Chinese authorities have approved the construction of the country's first marine nuclear power platform.

The demonstration project is sponsored by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, which began the R&D process in 2014.

Military analyst Shi Hong explains the technology.

"A marine nuclear power platform is a floating nuclear power plant, built on a mobile platform on the ocean. It can be very helpful for marine resource exploration, and life on small islands. It can provide energy for ocean water purification and electricity generation on islands. Such platforms can improve the quality of living on small islands tremendously."

Marine nuclear power platforms can also provide safe and reliable energy for oceanic oil exploration.

Shi Hong says beyond serving civil functions, the technology also has military applications.

"The development of such nuclear power platforms can present new opportunities for war ships. Military ships have very high standards when it comes to employing nuclear energy. These platforms can serve as basic testing grounds to further develop new equipment and technology for military use."

Two construction plans have been drawn up by the developer. One is for a power plant built on a mobile platform in the ocean. The other is for a submersible plant that can operate below the ocean surface under harsh conditions.

 

[HariPrasad-1]

Nuclear submarines and Nuclear powered Aircraft careers have floating nuclear power plant as well. the only difference is that its energy is used to move the platform and not to produce electricity.

 

[amoy]

Nuclear submarines and Nuclear powered Aircraft careers have floating nuclear power plant as well. the only difference is that its energy is used to move the platform and not to produce electricity.

Floating nuclear power plants r meant to provide for sea drilling

And remote islands (projects incl.desalination )

~~Still waters run deep. ~~from my MiPad using tapatalk

 

[amoy]

China mulls 20 floating reactor platforms to aid oil drilling
China Daily, April 22, 2016

Offshore oil drilling demand will keep growing in the next five years, with a market value of 100 billion yuan. [Photo/China Daily]

China is planning to build about 20 floating reactor platforms to meet the demand of maritime atomic propulsion, driving a market that could be worth tens of billions of dollars, a report said on Thursday.

The country's first-ever floating nuclear plant is about to start the final assembly in Huludao, a coastal city in Liaoning province, and it will be built by Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co Ltd, a unit of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, according to eworldship, a Shanghai-based maritime industry information provider.

"CSIC is the first company with the permission to construct the floating nuclear-powered vessel, and it aims to become the strongest builder of floating nuclear platforms within five years," the report quoted Wu Zhong, general manager of CSIC Asset Management Co Ltd, as saying during an expert review held this week.

Zhu Hanchao, deputy chief engineer of the CSIC 719 Research Institute, said that the average cost of a pilot project is about 3 billion yuan ($463 million), but it will be able to generate sales of 22.6 billion yuan in 40 years, the life span of the vessel. He said that the cost could go lower as the company realizes mass production of such platforms.

The CSIC 719 was established in 2014 to develop a maritime nuclear power platform and core technologies in the field.

At the end of last year, the shipbuilder got the nod from the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic regulator, to start research for a demonstration project of the platform.

Earlier this year, China General Nuclear Power Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CSIC to develop a reactor design－200-megawatt ACPR50S for the offshore nuclear power platform.

CGN is currently working on the preliminary design for ACPR50S, which is expected to start construction in 2017 and be commissioned by 2020.

The floating nuclear power plant, which can be equipped inside a section of the vessel, is often used to supply stable electricity not only to remote areas, but also to large industrial facilities such as seawater desalination plants and offshore oilfield exploration rigs, CGN said.

"The project has a wide range of civilian applications in providing safe and stable energy for maritime resources exploration and development," CGN said.

The offshore oil drilling demand will keep growing in the next five years with a market value of 100 billion yuan, while the industry of nuclear-powered equipment is expected to reach 50 billion yuan per year in the Bohai Bay, Wu Zhong said.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

China mulls 20 floating reactor platforms to aid oil drilling
China Daily, April 22, 2016

Offshore oil drilling demand will keep growing in the next five years, with a market value of 100 billion yuan. [Photo/China Daily]

China is planning to build about 20 floating reactor platforms to meet the demand of maritime atomic propulsion, driving a market that could be worth tens of billions of dollars, a report said on Thursday.

The country's first-ever floating nuclear plant is about to start the final assembly in Huludao, a coastal city in Liaoning province, and it will be built by Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co Ltd, a unit of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, according to eworldship, a Shanghai-based maritime industry information provider.

"CSIC is the first company with the permission to construct the floating nuclear-powered vessel, and it aims to become the strongest builder of floating nuclear platforms within five years," the report quoted Wu Zhong, general manager of CSIC Asset Management Co Ltd, as saying during an expert review held this week.

Zhu Hanchao, deputy chief engineer of the CSIC 719 Research Institute, said that the average cost of a pilot project is about 3 billion yuan ($463 million), but it will be able to generate sales of 22.6 billion yuan in 40 years, the life span of the vessel. He said that the cost could go lower as the company realizes mass production of such platforms.

The CSIC 719 was established in 2014 to develop a maritime nuclear power platform and core technologies in the field.

At the end of last year, the shipbuilder got the nod from the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic regulator, to start research for a demonstration project of the platform.

Earlier this year, China General Nuclear Power Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CSIC to develop a reactor design－200-megawatt ACPR50S for the offshore nuclear power platform.

CGN is currently working on the preliminary design for ACPR50S, which is expected to start construction in 2017 and be commissioned by 2020.

The floating nuclear power plant, which can be equipped inside a section of the vessel, is often used to supply stable electricity not only to remote areas, but also to large industrial facilities such as seawater desalination plants and offshore oilfield exploration rigs, CGN said.

"The project has a wide range of civilian applications in providing safe and stable energy for maritime resources exploration and development," CGN said.

The offshore oil drilling demand will keep growing in the next five years with a market value of 100 billion yuan, while the industry of nuclear-powered equipment is expected to reach 50 billion yuan per year in the Bohai Bay, Wu Zhong said.

Reactor is for oil drilling from SCS clearly.
I can bet Vietnamese won't be happy at all. :biggrin2:

 

[HariPrasad-1]

We have build very compact nuclear reactors for arihant and aridaman. We can mount them on boat to make the floating power plants. We can have some our share.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

We have build very compact nuclear reactors for arihant and aridaman. We can mount them on boat to make the floating power plants. We can have some our share.

Anyone can do that who has got key technologies.
Play is of money and need. Neither India needs it, plus it's costly.