I'd like to add here that we have small modular reactors throughout the US navy fleet which have been operational for over 60 years with zero issues. Which is funny, when these ships come to port and dock in San Diego, no-one really cares.
"The United States is the main navy with nuclear-powered aircraft carriers , while Russia has nuclear-powered cruisers. Russia has eight nuclear icebreakers in service or building. Since its inception in 1948, the U.S. Navy nuclear program has developed 27 different plant designs, installed them in 210 nuclear-powered ships, taken 500 reactor cores into operation, and accumulated over 5,400 reactor years of operation and 128,000,000 miles safely steamed. Additionally, 98 nuclear submarines and six nuclear cruisers have been recycled. The U.S. Navy has never disclosed a reactor accident, but has suffered at least one coolant loss accident, on the USS Guardfish."
This is very interesting data, Thanks for sharing. I had no idea the US Navy was way ahead on this for the past 70 years! It makes so much sense to have these SMR reactors - If the Navy can pull it off without any major incidents, then surely with our tech and human intellect available, we should be able to move it commercially.
Infact, I just read that Digital Realty (Us based) has recently floated the idea that new data centers should run on their own “submarine style” independent nuclear reactors.
To think of it, it makes so much sense that AI data centers should have their own SMRs.
I'd like to add here that we have small modular reactors throughout the US navy fleet which have been operational for over 60 years with zero issues. Which is funny, when these ships come to port and dock in San Diego, no-one really cares.
That's truly interesting. I believe its about "what you don't see, doesn't bother anyone".
The more I read about SMRs, the more it makes sense to deploy these for commercial purposes.
I found the data for my original comment:
"The United States is the main navy with nuclear-powered aircraft carriers , while Russia has nuclear-powered cruisers. Russia has eight nuclear icebreakers in service or building. Since its inception in 1948, the U.S. Navy nuclear program has developed 27 different plant designs, installed them in 210 nuclear-powered ships, taken 500 reactor cores into operation, and accumulated over 5,400 reactor years of operation and 128,000,000 miles safely steamed. Additionally, 98 nuclear submarines and six nuclear cruisers have been recycled. The U.S. Navy has never disclosed a reactor accident, but has suffered at least one coolant loss accident, on the USS Guardfish."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_naval_reactors#:~:text=Since%20its%20inception%20in%201948,and%20128%2C000%2C000%20miles%20safely%20steamed
This is very interesting data, Thanks for sharing. I had no idea the US Navy was way ahead on this for the past 70 years! It makes so much sense to have these SMR reactors - If the Navy can pull it off without any major incidents, then surely with our tech and human intellect available, we should be able to move it commercially.
Infact, I just read that Digital Realty (Us based) has recently floated the idea that new data centers should run on their own “submarine style” independent nuclear reactors.
To think of it, it makes so much sense that AI data centers should have their own SMRs.