A Literature Review of Integrated Advanced Nuclear and Thermal Energy Storage Systems for Civilian Maritime

The development of advanced nuclear reactors has made them an increasingly attractive solution for deep sea shipping decarbonization, offering high power density, zero operational emissions, and enhanced safety features. To reach the International Maritime Organization goals of zero emissions by 2050, there has been an international drive to develop carbon neutral fuels and technologies for civilian maritime applications. It is improbable that advanced nuclear reactors will offer the complete load flexibility necessary to operate independently in civilian vessels. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems may enable advanced nuclear reactors to operate more flexibly at sea, particularly in cases of high load variability, and may offer higher energy densities and favorable lifetime characteristics compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.This review article conducts a literature review of research at the intersection of advanced nuclear technologies, TES systems, and civilian maritime applications. The work, which details an integrative methodology for the literature search, includes an in-depth analysis of 48 research articles published in scientific journals, peer-reviewed conferences, and master theses. Research gaps and opportunities for future work have been identified in several areas: TES systems for maritime applications, feasibility of vessel-specific reactor designs, and the selection of appropriate working fluids.