Recently, Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group released the world's largest 24000TEU class nuclear-powered container ship at the 2023 China International Maritime Technology Academic Conference and Exhibition. This initiative not only represents a new milestone for China in the field of shipbuilding, but also demonstrates China's leading position in nuclear energy utilization and environmental protection technology.
The biggest highlight of this container ship is its innovative molten salt reactor solution. The application of this technology ensures that the goal of "zero emission" is achieved throughout the entire operation cycle, thereby greatly reducing environmental pollution, which is in line with the current global green and low-carbon development trend. The application of the ship's all-electric solution is also a major feature of this container ship. Its propulsion system consists of twin motors, twin propellers and twin rudders, and the fuel needs to be changed only once every 15 to 20 years, which will greatly improve operational efficiency and economic efficiency.
This container ship uses the latest thorium-based molten salt reactor technology, which is currently the world's most advanced fission nuclear reactor. Thorium-based molten salt reactors offer enormous advantages over conventional nuclear technologies. Because it is used as a coolant and fuel carrier, it has excellent heat conduction performance and high boiling point, which can work stably at high temperatures, which greatly improves the energy conversion efficiency. At the same time, molten salt coolant can assume the function of a fuel carrier, simplifying the system structure and reducing equipment costs and operational risks. Moreover, the thorium-based molten salt reactor also has good safety performance. Due to the high boiling point and low pressure of molten salt, thorium-based molten salt reactors are more stable and safe than traditional water-cooled reactors.
Because the fuel is in a liquid state, it will automatically cool and solidify in the event of an accident, which is much less harmful to the environment than gases and liquids. In addition, the coolant of the molten salt reactor also has a lower vapor pressure, which reduces mechanical stress and improves the safety of the reactor. In short, thorium-based molten salt reactor technology is a new type of nuclear power generation technology with broad prospects. It has the advantages of abundant resources, high safety, good environmental protection and high economic benefits, and is expected to provide important support for solving global energy problems.
This innovative design of Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group has set a new benchmark for the global maritime industry and led a new direction in container ship design. At the same time, it also further promotes the influence of China Shipbuilding Group in the global maritime industry, proving China's leading position in the global shipbuilding field.
The announcement of nuclear power technology this time means that China has successfully broken through the nuclear power technology of first-class ships. This also indicates that in the near future, we will see the emergence of large hulls such as China's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered icebreakers, which will undoubtedly further enhance China's position and influence in the international community.
In addition, this ship thorium-based molten salt reactor technology is currently the world's most advanced fission nuclear reactor technology. Compared with traditional nuclear energy technology, thorium-based molten salt reactors have higher energy conversion efficiency, better safety performance and more simplified system structure. Its successful application not only proves China's scientific and technological strength, but also provides new solutions to the world's energy problems.
In general, the design of this 24000TEU class nuclear-powered container ship of Jiangnan Shipbuilding Group is a perfect combination of technology and environmental protection. Its emergence not only demonstrates China's innovation capabilities in shipbuilding and nuclear energy technology, but also provides new possibilities for global green and low-carbon development. We look forward to the widespread application of this technology in the future to bring a better future to our planet."