ANALYSIS OF PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE APPLICATIONS OF NUCLEAR POWER FOR PROPULSION OF MARINE VEHICLES

The current status of nuclear marine propulsion systems is reviewed in an historical framework, with special emphasis on the following: 1) Types of reactor plants and their suitability for marine propulsion application; 2) Economic considerations involved in nuclear marine propulsion; 3) Inherent design requirements--including radiation shielding, fission product containment and decay heat removal--which make achievement of an economically competitive, commercial nuclear ship difficult; and 4) Advantages and prospects of a fleet of nuclear merchantmen to bolster the currently declining and non-competitive U.S. merchant marine. This study is carried out by an extensive literature survey and correspondence and/or personal discussions with authorities in the fields of marine and nuclear engineering. Detailed descriptions are presented of the 4, non-military, nuclear ships built to date and of certain, improved, nuclear propulsion plant designs intended for application in the next generation of nuclear merchant ships to be built. Detailed background material regarding nuclear reactor engineering is also included.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Ocean Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Bauman, J R
• Publication Date: 1972-5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economics; Nuclear power; Nuclear powered ships
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044162
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1973 12:00AM