Emile G. R. Germonpre, and Jacopo Buongiorno
Report Date: November 2024
Program: ANP : Advanced Nuclear Power Program
Type: TR
RPT. No.: 202
Nuclear batteries (NBs) are a class of factory fabricated microreactors (output on the order of a few megawatts) that are transportable and autonomously operated. They promise quick deployment with little site preparation and a small total footprint. In addition, at the end of their multiple-year fuel lifetime, the reactor is shipped to a central facility for refueling and maintenance. Due to their unique features, NBs are a versatile energy platform that can provide energy as a service to customers with a drastically lowered up-front investment compared to traditional nuclear reactors. Figure 1 shows what a NB site looks like.
An application of particular interest for the project sponsors Shell, Equinor, and ExxonMobil using NBs to generate power for Floating Production Storage and Offloading platforms (FPSOs), as the large emissions of the current gas turbine systems pose a risk to their operation. In this context, our work investigates the feasibility of using NBs to produce power for FPSOs. Although the primary focus is on FPSOs, many results can be translated for the general use of NBs for offshore power services.