Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

In this episode we discuss... Kemal's background in thermodynamics and personal evolution in the nuclear industry from Los Alamos to Idaho National Labs A deep dive into the Loss of Coolant Accident Scenario Complete loss of coolant versus partial loss of coolant and the aftermath of both Kemal's research in nuclear fuels and especially light water reactor fuels Kemal's thoughts on the relationship between the US government and nuclear industry and ways to overcome its flaws Idaho National Lab's GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear) Kemal's focused role on a new test reactor and its significance in research and development in nuclear technology Building support for nuclear in US Congress A behind the scenes look at designing a versatile reactor

In this episode we discuss... David's personal journey through the nuclear industry from executive vice president of NAC International to president of the US Nuclear Industry Council The history of energy in the US including the Advanced Reactor Program and why it went under Why closing the back end of the fuel cycle is important to worldwide trade in the nuclear sector The origins of the US Nuclear Industry Council and its start as a backend focus group A deep dive into Yucca Mountain's past, present, and future The Nuclear Industry Council's two main focuses of advanced technology and supply chain and the significance of each International competition in the nuclear industry and the US's edge in human capital Financing challenges in the US and how we can overcome them David's outlook on the US nuclear industry including potential non-light water reactor startups microreactors at the Department of Defense complex

In this episode we discuss... Paul's personal evolution in the nuclear industry working at Capehurst, Berkeley, and now at the NNL --- A deep dive into nuclear fusion technology --- Japan's reprocessing technology efforts --- Paul's work at the NNL and how he gained the position of CEO --- The inner dynamics of a government and contractor-operated national lab model --- Political, financial, and technological challenges the industry must overcome to secure nuclear as our primary energy source --- Improving communications strategies surrounding nuclear safety to increase trust and public discourse --- How building more can work to increase confidence, decrease risk, and thus reduce cost

In this episode we discuss... Ian's background in biology and personal evolution through the nuclear industry --- Economic challenges within the industry --- A deep dive into molten salt fuel and its chemical makeup including uranium chloride --- The efficiency of uranium oxide versus uranium metal --- Why heat can be stored at a large scale while electricity cannot --- Why molten salt reactors are safer and thus cheaper when it comes to materials and construction --- The life cycle of molten salt reactors --- Why fast reactors aren't sustainable --- How testing in a non-radioactive environment speeds up the time to fuel qualification --- The pros and cons of different nuclear regulators --- Challenges with funding between the government and investors --- Ian's positive outlook on nuclear's future and solving its two key problems of cost and energy storage

In this episode we discuss... Alastair's personal evolution in the nuclear industry from working with the first Magnox reactor to his position as president at the European Nuclear Society --- A deep dive into the fuel loading process and human factory challenges it poses --- Light water reactors versus gas reactors --- The processes that go into synchronizing turbines to the grid --- The fine-tuned chain reactions necessary to generate steam --- Alastair's work at the ENS advocating for nuclear and the politics involved --- Improving communications strategies surrounding nuclear safety --- Alastair's positive outlook on nuclear and its progress towards becoming renewable

In this episode we discuss... Andrew's personal evolution in the nuclear and submarine industries --- US naval reactors and the features Andrew helped design --- Information sharing and collaboration between the US and the UK in the nuclear space --- Andrew's work for Rolls-Royce's civil nuclear business developing manufacturing techniques --- The history of the AMRC and all that it contributes to the nuclear space including manufacturing innovation --- Applying the best shipbuilding practices to modular-building --- Cryogenic CO2 machining --- How the nuclear industry can benefit employment rates --- How we can make new nuclear builds more cost effective --- The AMRC's supply chain development program

In this episode we discuss... Kirsty's interest in the environment and how it led her into the nuclear industry --- A breakdown of climate change's various current and potential consequences --- The science of persuasion in educating the general public on climate change --- Sir David MacKay's book Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air and how it shaped Kirsty's view of nuclear --- Why renewables aren't good enough alone as a sustainable energy option --- Kirsty's communication strategies to help increase public discourse on nuclear among the public and especially among environmentalists --- The UK's communications response to Fukushima and the lessons learned about nuclear safety protocols --- Kirsty's work at Energy for Humanity to help make nuclear more cost effective, scalable, and viable as a sustainable energy source

In this episode we discuss... How Sue earned her title of "Dame" --- Sue's background in material science and personal evolution in the nuclear industry --- A deep dive into the UK's Magnox fuel elements --- The history of nuclear in the UK including its advanced gas coal reactors and its high temperature reactor "Dragon" --- The defamation characteristics and manufacturing routes of reactor clads and challenges Sue worked to resolve --- Dry processes versus wet chemical processes --- The economics and life cycles of waste and decommissioning in nuclear versus other industries --- Modularity and its construction costs --- Sue's current work at BNFL engaging vendors with constructors

In this episode we discuss... Jay's personal evolution from manufacturing to business within the nuclear industry --- A deep dive into neutrology --- Disruptive nuclear techniques and their purpose --- How the AMRC is working to make welding more cost and time efficient with electron beam welding --- The AMRC's disciplines including subtractive and additive techniques as well as the science of measurement --- Disciplines the AMRC is looking to expand to including modular manufacturing and equipment qualification --- The AMRC's shop floor and the work that goes on there --- The AMRC's collaboration with the US on a nuclear naval fleet --- The relationship between manufacturing innovation and supply chain development --- Challenges Jay believes we must overcome for nuclear to be truly successful including building a power plant to cost and schedule

In this episode we discuss Charles' personal evolution in the nuclear industry --- Opinion on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in his home state of Nevada --- Forging and its role in nuclear --- Charles' work in quality assurance in the forging industry --- A deep dive into two-phase heat transfer and its processes --- Human factory challenges and ways the AMRC is working to overcome them --- The ins and outs of steam generators --- Techniques the AMRC is working on to increase welding efficiency --- Single platform manufacturing and how it's improving nuclear cost and time efficiency