Korean floating modular reactor: Samsung concept receives preliminary approval

Samsung Heavy Industries has received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its floating nuclear power plant design. The concept features two SMART100 small modular reactors developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI).

AIP is granted at an early stage of conceptual design and serves to demonstrate a project’s feasibility to partners and regulators. It confirms that the proposed concept, including new technology, complies with relevant ABS rules and recommendations, as well as applicable industry norms and standards, subject to specified conditions.

Platform integration and reactor adaptation

As part of the certification process, Samsung Heavy Industries was responsible for:

• integrating the SMR into the floating structure,
• the overall design of the nuclear power generation facility,
• developing a multi-barrier containment system.

KAERI also adapted the SMART100 reactor design for potential offshore applications.

Universal FSMR platform and “compartment design”

ABS approval covers a floating platform with two SMART100 reactors, but Samsung Heavy Industries says the concept can also be adapted for other types of SMRs.

A key feature of the design is the so-called “compartment design”, which divides the facility into separate sections according to their functions. This makes it possible to replace or modify only the compartment housing the SMR, allowing the platform to be adapted for other reactor types.

Modular containment and shorter construction time

According to Samsung Heavy Industries, the reactor and safety systems—the key components of the floating nuclear power plant—have been modularized into a single containment vessel to enhance safety.

The SMR is also designed to be placed in the containment vessel in a way that allows testing on land before installation on the vessel. This is expected to help shorten construction time.

SMART and SMART100: Reactor technical specifications

The SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor) is a pressurized water reactor (PWR) with integrated steam generators and advanced safety features. The original SMART received standard design approval in mid-2012 and was described as the first SMR to receive standard design approval.

SMART design specifications

• Thermal output: 330 MWt
• Installed electrical capacity: up to 100 MWe
• Design lifetime: 60 years
• Fuel cycle: 3 years
• Use of heat: the heat produced can, for example, be used for seawater desalination

SMART100 upgrades

SMART100 builds on the original SMART design, increasing output and introducing safety and operational improvements. The new design incorporates a fully passive safety system intended to cool the reactor without external power, using natural physical principles such as gravity and differences in fluid density.

Compared with SMART, thermal output increases from 330 MWt to 365 MWt and electrical output from 100 MWe to 110 MWe. SMART100 received standard design approval in 2024.