Ship Motion Testing Needs Evaluation

Mukhi, Sanjay Haresh [Idaho National Laboratory]

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DOE OSTI · 3020781

Ship Motion Testing Needs Evaluation

Mukhi, Sanjay Haresh [Idaho National Laboratory]

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Abstract

The American Bureau of Shipping performed an evaluation of national maritime nuclear testing capabilities and determined there currently is an inability to test maritime nuclear power plants in a ship motion environment. A Ship Motion Test Facility (SMTF) is proposed to fill this gap. To inform design of this facility, this report documents an evaluation performed by a panel of technical experts that identifies key physical phenomena associated with maritime nuclear power plant operation that are important to safety and reliability and have a low state of knowledge. This evaluation concluded that all of the major test needs to understand a nuclear plant's behavior in a ship motion environment are for thermal-hydraulics related phenomena. Based on this finding, the evaluation panel concluded that the SMTF would not be required to use nuclear fuel to provide a heat source for the fluids. This would significantly decrease the cost, timeline, and complexity for this test facility to enable the advancement of maritime nuclear technology.

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22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS 33 - ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS Maritime Nuclear Applications Ship Motion Test Facility Thermal Hydraulics Testing

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Mukhi, Sanjay Haresh [Idaho National Laboratory]. 2025-08-18. Ship Motion Testing Needs Evaluation. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/3020781

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