NukeWorker Forum
News and Discussions => Nuke News => Topic started by: Marlin on Feb 04, 2015, 04:41
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Time to Reconsider Nuclear Propulsion
http://www.maritime-executive.com/features/time-to-reconsider-nuclear-propulsion
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I know someone who did some research on this very topic several years ago. ;)
If you ask me, I'll send you his research.
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I know someone who did some research on this very topic several years ago. ;)
Interesting read different conclusions. The article in Maritime Executive seems to focus only on the newer thorium reactor design and talks about new construction not refitting an existing cargo vessel even speculating that cruising speeds of 50 knots would further drop cost. Higher power density, reduced high level waste cost, and no fuel tanks increasing cargo space would seem to be positives. But then proposals by nuclear vendors are a bit rosy, the manpower projections for manpower needs of early plants was far below actual manning ("to cheap to meter") ;).
What was your grade? An "A" I would assume. 8)
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Interesting read different conclusions. The article in Maritime Executive seems to focus only on the newer thorium reactor design and talks about new construction not refitting an existing cargo vessel even speculating that cruising speeds of 50 knots would further drop cost. Higher power density, reduced high level waste cost, and no fuel tanks increasing cargo space would seem to be positives. But then proposals by nuclear vendors are a bit rosy, the manpower projections for manpower needs of early plants was far below actual manning ("to cheap to meter") ;).
What was your grade? An "A" I would assume. 8)
I interviewed a VP from one of the major shipping company. He stated that regardless of the economics, his company would never build/operate a nuke cargo ship. He said that the politics and the regulatory red tape that would undoubtedly develop would ultimately drive up costs beyond what could be shown on paper. I touched on some of those issues in section 3.5 and again through section 4.
I did get an A, but the ultimate reward was that my scholastic endeavours was formally complete once I turned in the thesis.