CLOSED CYCLE BOILING WATER REACTOR FOR THE PROPULSION OF A MERCHANT SHIP. SUMMARY REPORT

The engineering and economic characteristics of a nuclear tanker powered by a closed cycle boiling water reactor are summarized. The design characteristics of the tanker investigated were 38,000 DWT and 22,000 maximum SHP. The reactor is a light water-moderated core, using a nuclear fuel mixture of uranium oxide and thorium oxide ceramic cylinders clad with zircaloy. The selection of a boiling water reactor using the closed cycle principle results in practical reactor fuel element temperatures while producing conventional conditions at the turbine throttle. The economic study of the nuclear powered tanker points out the need of reducing the capital construction costs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document is available for review at the Department of Commerce Library, Main Commerce Building, Washington, D.C., under reference number AMF-1-C.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Machine and Foundry Company

  Nuclear Engineering Laboratory
  Greenwich, CT  United States  06830
• Authors:
  • Shackelford, M H
  • Morrell, R C
• Publication Date: 1957-6-17

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 49 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Nuclear powered ships; Nuclear reactors; Ship operations; Tanker shipping; Tankers; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship design
• Old TRIS Terms: Nuclear reactor design; Tanker economics
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00026040
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Maritime Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: Sum Rpt
• Contract Numbers: MA-1263
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 2 1973 12:00AM