Education and Training of Future Nuclear Engineers Through the use of an Interactive Plant Simulator

The successful experience of the Jose Cabrera Nuclear Power Plant Interactive Graphical Simulator implementation in the Nuclear Engineering Department in the Universidad Polite´cnica de Madrid, for the Education and Training of nuclear engineers is shown in this paper. The paper starts with the objectives and the description of the Simulator Aula, and the methodology of work following the recommendations of the IAEA for the use of nuclear reactor simulators for education. The practices and material prepared for the students, as well as the operational and accident situations simulated are provided.

The construction of social identity in newly recruited nuclear engineering staff : a longitudinal study

This study examines the process by which newly recruited nuclear engineering and technical staff came to understand, define, think, feel and behave within a distinct group that has a direct contribution to the organization's overall emphasis on a culture of reliability and system safety. In the field of organizational behavior the interactive model of social identity formation has been recently proposed to explain the process by which the internalization of shared norms and values occurs, an element critical in identity formation. Using this rich model of organizational behavior we analyzed multiple sources of data from nine new hires over a period of three years. This was done from the time they were employed to investigate the construction of social identity by new entrants entering into a complex organizational setting reflected in the context of a nuclear facility. Informed by our data analyses, we found support for the interactive model of social identity development and report the unexpected finding that a newly appointed member's age and level of experience appears to influence the manner in which they adapt, and assimilate into their surroundings. This study represents an important contribution to the safety and reliability literature as it provides a rich insight into the way newly recruited employees enact the process by which their identities are formed and hence act, particularly under conditions of duress or significant organizational disruption in complex organizational settings.

Managing identity transitions during radical change in nuclear engineering organizations

This study reports the construction and reconstruction of identities of new and existing employees during a significant transition phase of a nuclear engineering organization. We followed a group of new and existing employees over the period of three years, during which the organization constructed a greenfield nuclear facility with new generational technologies whilst in parallel, decommissioned the older reactor. This change led to the transfer and integration of existing trade-based employees with the newly recruited, primarily university educated graduates in the new site. Three waves of interview data were collected, in conjunction with the cognitive mapping of social grouping and photo elicitation portrayed the stories of different group of employees who either succeeded or failed at embracing their new professional identity. In contrast with the new recruits who constructed new identities as they join this organization, we identify and report on the number of enabling and disabling factors that influence the process of professional identity construction and reconstruction during gamma change.

Removal of nuclear bomb debris, Strontium 90-Yttrium 90, and Cesium 137-Barium 137 from water with Corps of Engineers mobile water-treating equipment /

Mode of access: Internet.

Investigation on the High Vacuum Tribological Characteristics of Surface Treated Nuclear Grade Stainless Steel Type AISI 316 LN at 25 to 500 degrees C

Although some researchers have published friction and wear data of Plasma Nitride (PN) coatings, the tribological behavior of PN/PN Pairs in high vacuum environment has not been published so far In order to bridge this knowledge gap, tribological tests under dry conditions have been conducted on PN/PN Pairs for varying temperatures of 25, 200, 400 and 500 degrees C in high vacuum (1.6 x 10(-4) bar) environment. The PN coatings showed good wear resistance layer on the ring surface. The PN coatings were removed only from the pin surface for all the tests since it contacts at a point. The friction and wear were low at lower temperatures and it eliminated adhesion between the contact surfaces until the coating was completely removed from the pin surface. (C) 2011 Journal of Mechanical Engineering. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Chitosan-Coated Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 Nanocrystals

Ultra-fine crystallites of Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 series (0 <= x <= 1) were synthesized through wet chemical co- precipitation method followed by calcination at 200 degrees C for 4 hours. Formation of ferrites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, TEM selected area diffraction (SAD) and Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR). Nanocrystallites of different compositions in the series were coated with biocompatible chitosan in order to investigate their possible application as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Chitosan coating examined by FTIR, revealed a strong bonding of chitosan molecules to the surface of the ferrite nanocrystallites. Spin-spin, tau(2) relaxivities of nuclear spins of hydrogen protons of the solutions for different ferrites were measured from concentration dependence of relaxation time by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). All the compositions of Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 series possess higher values of tau(2) relaxivity thus making them suitable as contrast agents for tau(2) weighted imaging by MRI.

Iodide Retention by Modified Kaolinite in the Context of Safe Disposal of High Level Nuclear Waste

Bentonite clay is identified as potential buffer in deep geological repositories (DGR) that store high level radioactive wastes (HLW) as the expansive clay satisfies the expected mechanical and physicochemical functions of the buffer material. In the deep geological disposal of HLW, iodine-129 is one of the significant nuclides, attributable to its long half-life (half life 1⁄4 1:7 × 107 years). However, the negative charge on the basal surface of bentonite particles precludes retention of iodide anions. To render the bentonite effective in retaining hazardous iodide species in DGR, improvement of the anion retention capacity of bentonite becomes imperative. The iodide retention capac-ity of bentonite is improved by admixing 10 and 20% Ag-kaolinite (Ag-K) with bentonite (B) on a dry mass basis. The present study produced Ag-kaolinite by heating silver nitrate-kaolinite mixes at 400°C. Marginal release of iodide retained by Ag-kaolinite occurred under extreme acidic (pH 1⁄4 2:5) and alkaline (pH 1⁄4 12:5) conditions. The swell pressure and iodide etention results of the B-Ag-K specimens bring out that mixing Ag-K with bentonite does not chemically modify the expansive clay; the mixing is physical in nature and Ag-K presence only contributes to iodide retention of the admixture. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000121. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Open cycle thorium–uranium-fuelled nuclear energy systems

The potential for countries that currently have a nominal nuclear energy infrastructure to adopt thorium–uranium-fuelled nuclear energy systems, using a once-through ‘open’ nuclear fuel cycle, has been suggested by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This review paper highlights generation II, III and III+ nuclear energy technologies that could potentially adopt an open thorium–uranium fuel cycle and qualitatively highlights the main differences between the open thorium–uranium and open uranium fuel cycles.

Radiological protection and nuclear engineering studies in multi-MW target systems

Tese de doutoramento, Física, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

Physics and Science Policy Implications of Reduction of the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Arsenal

Maintaining the readiness U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile is a fundamental pillar of American defense policy. The biggest issue facing the national laboratories that are charged with this mission is replenishing the highly skilled and specialized manpower that is necessary for this task. This lecture presents both physics and science policy questions that must be answered. It also presents employment opportunities for young scientists and engineers.

Civil engineering bibliography on the design and construction of nuclear facilities /

"DTIE Issuance Date: December 1962."

Design of structures to resist nuclear weapons effects, supplement.

Mode of access: Internet.

A glossary of terms in nuclear science and technology.

Preliminary ed. published in 1950-52 under title: Glossary of nuclear energy terms.

A glossary of terms in nuclear science and technology.

Preliminary ed. published in 1950-52 under title: Glossary of nuclear energy terms.