As nuclear is already used on aircraft carriers, and with a major cargo ship not having a large crew including guests so it can be properly scrutinized and managed by engineers, why hasn’t this technology ever carried over for commercial operators?
Similarly for hydrogen, why (or are?) ship builders not trying to build hydrogen powered engines? Seeing the massive size of engines (and fuel) they have, could they make super-sized fuel cells and on-board synthesizing to no longer be reliant on gas?
In: Engineering
Little bit off topic, but I believe that Richard Feynman is credited with the patent for the nuclear powered rocket and airplane. Apparently when he was working in Los Alamos one of the army officers asked him for ideas for what uses nuclear power had and he reeled off a list. Feynman didn’t realise at the time, but this guy submitted patents for them all and those two hadn’t been taken yet.
Army owned the patents, but he is credited on them.
Nuclear ships are not permitted in any harbor or port due to emission concerns. The navies that have nuclear ships just go round trips to the hope port or a friendly one that allows them in. There might be a list of ports of harbors or ports where they can shore up, but as far as I am aware this is the reason.
While it is/was good for rockets due to it’s power/density, hydrogen is pain in the ass to make because the best way to make is breaking apart methane.
because it is far cheaper to burn the lowest grade of fossil fuel that is otherwise illegal to use anywhere else
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