Model Equipped with Two SMART100 Reactors
Compartmentalized Design Enables Application of Various SMRs
"Targeting the Offshore Nuclear Power Market... Floating Technology Enhanced"
Samsung Heavy Industries is accelerating the development of a floating offshore nuclear power generation platform capable of accommodating various types of small modular reactors (SMRs).
On December 15, Samsung Heavy Industries announced that it had obtained Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the conceptual design of the floating offshore nuclear power generation platform 'FSMR (Floating SMR),' which is equipped with two SMART100 integrated small modular reactors developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The SMART100 is an integrated small modular reactor for onshore use developed by KAERI. In September of last year, it received standard design approval from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Through this latest certification, the technical foundation for applying this reactor in offshore environments has now been validated.
Image of the floating offshore nuclear power generation platform 'FSMR (Floating SMR)' equipped with two SMART100 integrated small modular reactors developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Samsung Heavy Industries
During the AIP process, Samsung Heavy Industries was responsible for the integrated design of the small modular reactors and the floating structure, the overall design of the nuclear power generation system, and the development of a multi-barrier reactor containment vessel. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute undertook the technical task of converting the onshore SMART100 for offshore use.
The FSMR features a universal platform structure that is not dependent on a specific reactor. By implementing a 'compartmentalized design' that separates the reactor and power generation facilities by function, it allows for the installation of different types of SMRs simply by changing the compartment that houses the small modular reactor. Accordingly, the platform is evaluated as having high potential for expansion into various offshore nuclear power facilities utilizing different small modular reactor technologies in the future.
Safety has also been enhanced. The core reactor and safety systems of the floating nuclear power generation facility are configured as modules within a single containment vessel, minimizing the risk of external impact and accidents. By placing the small modular reactor inside the containment vessel, it is possible to conduct testing and verification on land before installation on a vessel, offering advantages in shortening construction periods and improving quality control.
Youngkyu Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of Technology Development Division at Samsung Heavy Industries (from left), Patrick Ryan, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and Jinyoung Cho, Director of the Advanced Reactor Research Institute at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Samsung Heavy Industries
Youngkyu Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of Technology Development Division at Samsung Heavy Industries, stated, "This certification is a milestone for pioneering the offshore nuclear power generation market," adding, "Based on the floating technology we have accumulated, Samsung Heavy Industries will continue to secure safe and economical offshore nuclear power technology." Jinyoung Cho, Director of the Advanced Reactor Research Institute at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, also commented, "Obtaining this conceptual design certification using SMART100 is an example that proves the innovativeness of our nuclear technology," and added, "We will continue to develop technology so that our country can secure a leading position in the marine nuclear power industry."
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