Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has developed a conceptual design for a floating offshore nuclear power platform that can accommodate various small modular reactors (SMRs). The company announced that it has received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a floating SMR (FSMR) incorporating two SMART100 reactor units.

The SMART100, known as System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor 100, is an integral SMR developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). It obtained standard design certification from South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in September 2024.

In this design approval process, SHI handled the integration of the SMR with the floating structure, overall layout of the nuclear power generation facilities, and the creation of multi-barrier reactor containment vessels. KAERI focused on adapting the land-based SMART100 for marine applications.

The SMART100 builds on the earlier SMART design, which became the first SMR to receive standard design approval in 2012. The reactor is intended for electricity production up to 100 MWe and thermal uses up to 330 MWt, including seawater desalination. It features a 60-year operational lifespan and a three-year refuelling interval. Key components, such as the pressuriser, cooling pump, steam generator, and reactor core, are housed within a single pressure vessel.

The FSMR employs a compartmental layout that separates and organizes the reactors and power generation equipment. This modular approach allows the platform to support different SMR types by modifying the relevant compartments. Core safety systems and reactors are contained within a single vessel, improving protection. This configuration also permits onshore testing prior to installation on the vessel, contributing to shorter project timelines.

Ahn Young-kyu, head of SHI's Technology Development Division, said, "This certification is an important milestone for pioneering the offshore nuclear power market. We will secure safe and economical offshore nuclear power technology with the floating technology that Samsung Heavy Industries is proud of."

Jo Jin-young, director of KAERI's Advanced Reactor Research Institute, noted: "Obtaining this AIP utilising SMART100 proves the innovation of our nuclear technology. We will accelerate technology development so that Korea can establish itself as a leading country in the marine nuclear industry."

The collaboration between SHI and KAERI demonstrates progress in adapting established SMR technology for floating applications, offering potential solutions for remote or marine-based energy needs.

by power-technology