Recent Advances in Ocean Nuclear Power Plants

TLDR

ONPP concepts have progressed in France, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. This paper reviews recent advances in ONPPs, covering general arrangement, design parameters, and safety features. The review examines Russia’s KLT‑40S floating PWR, a U.S. spar‑type offshore plant, South Korea’s APR1400/SMART GBS‑type ONPPs, and a French submerged‑type design.

Abstract

In this paper, recent advances in Ocean Nuclear Power Plants (ONPPs) are reviewed, including their general arrangement, design parameters, and safety features. The development of ONPP concepts have continued due to initiatives taking place in France, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. Russia’s first floating nuclear power stations utilizing the PWR technology (KLT-40S) and the spar-type offshore floating nuclear power plant designed by a research group in United States are considered herein. The APR1400 and SMART mounted Gravity Based Structure (GBS)-type ONPPs proposed by a research group in South Korea are also considered. In addition, a submerged-type ONPP designed by DCNS of France is taken into account. Last, issues and challenges related to ONPPs are discussed and summarized.