Samsung Heavy Industries said on the 15th it developed a "floating offshore nuclear power platform" (FSMR·Floating SMR) that can carry various small modular reactors (SMR·Small Modular Reactor). Samsung Heavy Industries obtained approval in principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS·American Bureau of Shipping) for the concept design of an "FSMR" loaded with two "SMART 100" units. "SMART 100" is an integral SMR developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI).
In this approval, Samsung Heavy Industries was responsible for integrating the SMR with the floating structure, overall design of the nuclear power generation facilities, and developing a multiple-barrier reactor containment, while KAERI carried out the task of converting the land-based SMR "SMART 100" for offshore use.
Samsung Heavy Industries sees the FSMR, a general-purpose floating nuclear power facility model capable of carrying various types of SMRs, as advantageous for commercialization. A hallmark is the use of "compartment design," which separates and groups the reactor and power generation facilities by function and then arranges them. By changing only the design of the compartment where the SMR is installed, it is possible to develop FSMRs that apply a variety of SMR types.
An Young-gyu, head of technology development at Samsung Heavy Industries, said, "This approval is an important milestone for pioneering the offshore nuclear power market," adding, "With the floating technology of which Samsung Heavy Industries is proud, we will secure safe and economical offshore nuclear power plant technology."