Engineering news
Babcock International’s marine division has completed a study to investigate the commercial implications of developing a nuclear-powered liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier – a move the engineering firm says would be a first for LNG vessels.
The first nuclear propulsion in merchant ships was introduced in the 1960s, following successful exploitation in submarines and aircraft carriers, but while these were technically successful, they were commercially less so, according to Babcock.
A renaissance in nuclear propulsion for large merchant ships could now be imminent, some suggest, in response to concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of fuel.
At present, there are approximately 200 nuclear reactors serving at sea, according to Lloyd’s Register. These are primarily in naval ships and submarines, but also in some vessels considered to be in the merchant sector. Since the time of the first nuclear powered submarine, some 700 nuclear power plants have seen service at sea.
The development of nuclear propulsion has been on-going over the years, largely centred on icebreakers but also including other merchant ship types. Recent papers indicate that the adoption of nuclear propulsion for high speed container ships is technically feasible, Babcock said.
Its study found that in reviewing the latest legislation, newly issued design codes from Lloyds Register allow the design of nuclear-powered vessels to be revisited. The study was carried out to determine the commercial feasibility of utilising nuclear power for the main propulsion and auxiliary power generation on board an LNG carrier.
The company said that a number of benefits could be realised by the use of nuclear-powered vessels for LNG transportation, including low emissions. In addition, the vessel’s large power generation requirements could be supplied by a relatively compact power source compared with normal power methods for this vessel type – which could help maximise cargo capacity. A significant reduction in noise generation would be another benefit.
Babcock’s integrated technology commercial projects director David Dobson said that the study indicated that particular routes and cargoes lend themselves well to the nuclear propulsion option, and that technological advances in reactor design and manufacture have made the option more appealing.
On the other hand, initial capital costs are high – although they will reduce significantly when more applications for commercially produced marine reactors are found – and commercially available building and maintenance facilities would need to be established if significant numbers of these ships were planned.
Dobson said: “Nuclear power for commercial vessels is becoming significantly more attractive on a number of counts, not least from an environmental perspective, but there are a great many issues to weigh and consider in determining the feasibility of nuclear propulsion for any commercial vessel.
“Our knowledge and experience puts us in a particularly strong position to identify and advise operators on these issues. We have worked with several of the major operators in the marine and oil and gas sectors on a number of ground-breaking developments… over the years, and are delighted to be again investigating new ground.”