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Conference Spotlight
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.
L. Desgranges, M. P. Ferroud-Plattet, R. Alloncle, I. Aubrun, J. M. Untrau, P. Lhuillery
Nuclear Technology | Volume 163 | Number 2 | August 2008 | Pages 252-260
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT08-A3985
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In dry storage conditions, the accidental scenario takes into consideration a defective nuclear fuel rod reacting with the atmosphere. In order to gain information on French nuclear fuel, a new experimental setup named CROCODILE was developed to perform oxidation experiments in hot cells on defective fuel rodlets with controlled temperature and atmosphere. The first test was performed at 623 K in air with a rodlet taken from a four-cycle mixed-oxide fuel rod in which defects were simulated by drilling holes in the cladding. After 139 h of oxidation, significant degradation was observed with the development of radial and axial cracks. At this point, the experiment was stopped and the rodlet was analyzed. The main features observed were (a) a significant strain in the cladding around the cracks, which resulted in the detachment of fuel fragments; (b) no evidence of hydride accumulation in the cladding; and (c) a heterogeneous propagation of the oxidation front in the nuclear ceramic. The influence of the simulated defect is discussed and the use of a round defect is examined.