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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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Nuclear energy for maritime shipping and coastal applications
The Boston-based Deon Policy Institute has published a white paper that examines the applications of nuclear energy in the maritime sector—specifically, floating nuclear power plants and nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels. Topics covered include available technologies, preliminary cost estimates, and a status update on the regulatory framework.
Unique opportunity: The paper points out that nuclear energy has the potential to benefit the shipping industry with high energy efficiency, lower operating costs, and zero carbon emissions. The report has a special focus on Greece, a nation that controls about 20 percent of the global commercial fleet and thus has an opportunity to take a leading role in the transition to nuclear-powered shipping.
Kurt Goldmann, John M. Mckee
Nuclear Technology | Volume 6 | Number 4 | April 1969 | Pages 321-331
Technical Papers and Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT69-A28340
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Liquid potassium was circulated between 1200 and 1600°F in 31 Type-316 stainless-steel thermal convection loops and one forced circulation loop. Each loop contained a string of niobium-1% zirconium (Nb-1% Zr) alloy and stainless-steel test specimens positioned along the entire heated leg. To follow corrosion as a function of time and temperature, the test specimens were examined at 500 to 2500 h intervals. Controlled additions of interstitial impurities to the potassium were made in some thermal convection loops at the start of the test. Oxygen additions to the potassium sharply accelerated the initial rate of Nb-1% Zr surface removal but produced no identifiable oxide film or microstructural changes. The initially high weight-loss rates, observed in oxygen addition loops, decayed rapidly with time, returning essentially to normal rates (in the absence of further oxygen additions) after 2500 h. Oxygen additions produced very little effect on the stainless-steel corrosion rates, presumably due to rapid gettering of the added oxygen by the Nb-1% Zr. Similar tests in a forced circulation loop, with potassium velocities past the test specimens 18 times higher than in the thermal convection loops, showed that any effects of velocity on the Nb-1% Zr corrosion rate were far overshadowed by effects that are assumed to be related to oxygen in the potassium.