World’s first nuclear-powered LNG carrier receives approval in South Korea
Korean engineers have made a massive step toward the future of clean maritime propulsion by launching the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, which is powered by a small modular molten salt reactor (MSR).
The team, consisting of experts from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, Samsung Heavy Industries, announced that the vessel received Approval in Principle (AiP) on September 9.
An AiP is a symbolic certification step in which a classification society reviews a new ship’s design or technology. It then recognizes it as compliant with international regulations and safety standards.
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Liberian flag state granted the certification. It verifies the viability and safety of using a molten salt reactor as the ship’s propulsion system.
A molten salt reactor is a nuclear fission reactor in which either the fuel or the coolant is a molten salt. This is reportedly the first time a ship powered by such a reactor has received official design approval.
A new propulsion systemKAERI stated that the vessel’s propulsion system is built around a 100-megawatt thermal (MWth) molten salt reactor. This represents a next-gen nuclear tech in which the fuel is mixed with the molten salt, unlike traditional reactors that rely on solid fuels.
“The MSR, which uses a mixture of nuclear fuel and coolant in molten salt form as a liquid fuel, offers high safety and excellent energy efficiency, making it an attractive option for ship propulsion systems,” the researchers highlighted.
They also noted that the system’s revolutionary aspect lies in its ability to operate without fuel replacement for the ship’s entire lifespan. In contrast, conventional reactors require regular refueling, leading to higher maintenance and operational interruptions.
“The molten salt reactor is designed for liquefied natural gas carrier propulsion, has a thermal capacity of 100 MWth,” the team continued. “It is engineered so that a single unit can operate throughout the vessel’s entire service life without needing a fuel change.”
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