Nuclear Engineering

Aside from this season's festivities, we have another milestone to remember today: a feat achieved over 70 years ago by F-1, the world’s oldest operating nuclear reactor!

On 25 December 1946, the F-1 became Europe’s first reactor to achieve a self-sustaining chain reaction. Located at the Kurchatov Institute, the reactor supported groundbreaking research, tested advanced technologies, and processed plutonium. Today, the F-1 continues to serve as a reference neutron source for the calibration and certification of equipment.

CONNECTED⚡️ Georgia Power announces Unit 4 at Plant Vogtle connected to the grid for the first time. 👏

Connecting to the grid is part of ongoing startup testing and brings us one step closer to welcoming the reactor into operation.

Learn more: https://www.georgiapower.com/company/news-center/2024-articles/vogtle-unit-4-connects-to-electric-grid-for-the-first-time.html

The next generation of nuclear power reactors — including small modular reactors and advanced reactors — will require new kinds of fuel such as high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel. However, HALEU is only currently produced in two countries 🇷🇺 🇺🇸, mostly for use in research reactors and for possible use in operating light water reactors.

Building new supply chains for HALEU fuel production is essential to operate the new fleet of reactors.

IAEA Nuclear Fuel Engineering Specialist Ki Seob Sim said: "Efforts are now underway to build out those supply chains, but a lot more remains to be done, including demonstrating a clear business case for these advanced reactors in many regions, if we are to ensure the necessary supply of HALEU fuel. However, I’m confident that we can do that."

Learn more: atoms.iaea.org/3OwNsiT

This … is where the magic happens! 🪄Ever wondered what goes on inside a reactor? 💭The reactor is where controlled nuclear reactions take place to generate electricity.⚡️

A TOUCH OF SALT🧂: Alpha Tech Research Corp is developing this transportable molten salt microreactor.

Their modular design will deliver 12 megawatts of continuous power and can be combined with multiple units for higher capacity.

The reactor is designed to be shipped by truck and deployed virtually anywhere in the world to bring the clean and reliable attributes of nuclear energy to any community.

Alpha Tech is one of seven companies receiving GAIN - Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear vouchers to further commercialize its advanced nuclear technology.

The company is working with Argonne National Laboratory to advance a promising yttrium hydride-based moderator for its microreactor concept. The data will be used to inform the size and design of the reactor.

View all seven GAIN voucher awardee projects via the link below 👇

10 intriguing facts you might not know about the world’s first controlled release of nuclear energy.

➡️ The world's first self-sustaining controlled nuclear chain reactor took place at the University of Chicago on December 2, 1942.

➡️ Chicago Pile-1 was the world’s first nuclear reactor to go critical.

➡️ 49 scientists led by Enrico Fermi, were present for the event. Leona Marshall was the lone female researcher.

➡️ The reactor was built with graphite blocks, some of which contained small disks of uranium.

➡️ Scientists monitored the reaction on instruments named after Winnie the Pooh characters—Piglet, Tigger and Pooh.

➡️ Scientist George Weil withdrew the cadmium-plated control rod unleashing the first controlled chain reaction.

➡️ The reactor had three sets of control rods. One was automatic and could be controlled from the balcony. Another was an emergency safety rod. The third rod (operated by Weil) actually held the reaction in check until it was withdrawn the proper distance.

➡️ The group celebrated with a bottle of Chianti that was poured into paper cups. Most of the participants signed the wine bottle’s label. This was the only written record of who had taken part in the experiment.

➡️ In the lead up to this experiment, a letter from Albert Einstein to President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped lead to the Manhattan Project—a government research project that produced the first atomic bombs. It was also the seed that grew into the modern U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory system.

➡️ The Energy Department’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is named in honor of Enrico Fermi for his contributions to nuclear physics and scientific success at nearby University of Chicago.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/2KMLFWc

FACT: The U.S. is the LARGEST producer of nuclear energy in the world. Our 92 reactors generate more than 770 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year, which is enough to cleanly power more than 70 million homes.

NUCLEAR 101: Advanced light-water small modular reactors are simply smaller, manufactured versions of large-scale reactors.

They can be scaled up or down to meet clean energy demands and help power areas where larger plants are not needed.

https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/faculties/faculty_of_economics_and_business_administration/news/the_faculty_of_economics_and_business_administration_and_the_faculty_of_physics_of_sofia_university_welcomed_an_iaea_accreditation_mission

The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University welcomed an IAEA Accreditation Mission / News / Faculty of Economics and Business Administration / Faculties / The University / Home - Софийск Софийски Университет Св. Климент Охридски