Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy

Episode Content: Chad's time as a Navy Nuke. What makes one reactor in a submarine more advanced than another reactor? Challenges faced when constructing, designing, and managing a reactor. The effect of Three Mile Island on the perception of nuclear and its consequences. Distinguishing between fast reactors and thermal reactors. A discussion on sealed source weapons-grade plutonium. An in-depth look at boiling water reactors. An overview of the IAEA and the evolution of light water reactors. How nuclear technology can reduce energy poverty.

Episode Content: John's start working with Fluor Corporation and his transition to NuScale. A discussion about the potential of NuScale's SMR in the global market. The necessity of forging public-private relationships. An overview of constraints nuclear start-ups face. The importance of having a sustainable supply chain. The impact of driving down costs on demand. What the next generation of reactors will look like and the future of the environmental movement. How economics trump politics with the SMR design. The benefit of youth development and cultivating passions. Applications of SMRs and what the world will look like in the future.

Episode Content: Growing up as an environmentalist and making the transition to the nuclear industry. The importance of humanizing nuclear technology. International Safeguards and Policy. Taking a state-level approach v. facility-level approach when it comes to safeguards. The community-based approach and applications of SMRs. How important it is to train and provide opportunities for the next generation. Perceptions of nuclear energy in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the US. How to best learn about nuclear if you're not already familiar with it.

Episode Content:​ Tom's start as a Shift Technical Advisor implementing transient response implementing procedures. Nuclear Liability law. The importance of educating and familiarizing others with nuclear terms. Factors that determine whether technology is commercially attractive. Tom clarifies: who buys power plants? The features that make the NuScale's SMR design stand out. Segmenting the market: what to look for in domestic and international buyers. Levelized cost of electricity and the significance of acknowledging it through purchase. Domestic v. International Competition and an in-depth look at the international market. Painting a picture of the nuclear world in the future.

Episode Content: Tom's unexpected interest in nuclear through the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Directorate. Reliability inspect and reliability engineering. An explanation of and the reasoning behind risk-informed categorization Rule 50.69. Tom's transition from the NRC to NuScale and the private sector. A detailed description of the content and tribulations of the licensing application. The formulation of management topics. The benefits of applying for and obtaining limited work authorization. Short-term challenges and long-term aspirations of the company.

Episode Content: Jose's captivation with the nuclear industry during high school and college. The history, description, and findings of Counter Current Flow Limitation Testing. An overview of Jose's time as the Department Head of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Passive safety systems, the Bleed and Feed Approach, and the AP 600. Embodying full-scale behavior into a small-scale system. MASLWR: The Multi-Application Small Light Water Reactor. The importance of simplicity in design. How international competition and natural gas empowered domestic unity. Future implications of NuScale's groundbreaking design on an international scale.

Episode Content: Pete's start in the weapons testing and Star Wars Program at Los Alamos National Lab. An in-depth look at the relationship between nuclear energy and nonproliferation. Pete's work with Senator Domenici to craft legislation for essential nuclear programs. A discussion of the Nuclear Cities and Lab to Lab Initiatives. Efforts Pete spearheaded at the NRC. The importance of mitigating Station Blackouts and implementing safety measures. Catalyzing a wave of innovation efforts through investment in research and development. Highlights about and the ingenuity of NuScale's small modular reactor design. Reflections upon the importance of US nuclear leadership in the global sphere.

Episode Content: Ron's start with General Electric working on the D-Replacement Reactor. How thermohydraulics are used to raise exit temperatures and prevent a boiling coolant. The significance of plutonium-recycle test reactors and challenges of the program. An explanation of the physics behind the Fast Flux Test Facility. The advantages of a fast reactor. The definition of breeding. Why it is important to establish mutual and meaningful international partnerships. Russia and its closed cities. A discussion on the best way to embark designing new nuclear technology. Present advances in the nuclear technology sector and its implications for the future.

Episode Content: Brady's start as a chemical engineer. An explanation of re-processing. Dry Storage: in theory and in practice. An in-depth look at the process and consequences of oxidizing spent fuel. The formation of the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative. A discussion about Yucca Mountain's effectiveness in disposing used fuel. Political obstacles that inhibit disposal solutions. A look at whether nuclear technology is safe and a comparison to other forms of energy. What's on the horizon for nuclear energy.

Episode Content: Tara's start as an archaeologist at Hanford Cultural Resources Laboratory. An explanation of the National Environmental Policy Act. A breakdown of environmental assessments and impact statements. The process of acquiring permits and the necessity of mitigating environmental impact. The Nuclear Renaissance and whether there is a second Renaissance emerging. The types of licenses and the renewal process. Likes, dislikes, and improvements that need to be done in the system. What the world will look like moving forward.