RULES

I'm not sure this is the right subreddit given that the top posts seem more to do with policy concerns than science, but other people said this was the place to go.

Natural Uranium has Uranium-234, Uranium-235, and Uranium-238.

Reactors using thermal and fast neutrons cam both use Uranium-235 as their fuel. A neutron hits the Uranium atom and it goes through fission. U-238 will simply absorb a thermal neutron becoming U-239, which becomes Pu-239. This can undergo fission. In the case of thermal neutrons, they can also split U-235 and Pu-239 and if U-235 is concentrated enough, it can sustain fission. Fast neutrons are also capable of splitting U-238, although in a fast neutron reactor a lot of it still becomes Plutonium.

As for U-234, like U-238 it is also incapable of being split by a thermal neutron. It will absorb them and become U-235. It can be split by fast neutrons, but even in a fast neutron reactor, it is more likely to be absorbed than undergo fission. Once it becomes U-235 it can undergo fission.

Above 2 MeV, absorptive cross section of U-234 and U-238 is very similar.

So are U-234 and U-238 operate about the same in a nuclear reactor? In a thermal reactor, neither can undergo fission, but they can absorb neutrons. In the case they absorb neutrons, they become fissile isotopes like U-235 and Pu-239. In a fast reactor, a minority of them go fission and most of them absorb the neutrons and become fissile material. So I can't think how these are that different. Say I took a reactor fuel rod and change its U-234 composition to 1/8 of the total Uranium but left the U-235 proportion the same as a real fuel rod? What would change? I can't think of much.

Has anyone seen any detailed analysis or projections of what the consequences of the DBNPP pressure vessel cavity could have been? As I understand it, the design basis accident allows for an even larger hole in the piping, but the explosive blow down of the core in that particular spot could have damaged the emergency injection pumps and doomed the reactor?

Hi. French here.

I have a question regarding the units of measurements used in your country.

I joined the industry almost 20 years ago. In France, we use Bq for activity and Sv for dose measurements. Curies are sometimes used for huge activities (TBq and more)
On older papers, you can come across Ci and rem, but the transition to SI for these measurements seamed to have occured sometime between the end of the '80s and the early '90s, so a good chunk of time before I started working.

I took for granted that this trend was worldwide, but on this sub, I see a lot non-SI units used for recent measurements. So now, I think the US, and maybe other countries, sticked to curie and rem. Out of curiosity, I'd like to know more on that topic.

What units do you use at your workplace in your country?

Hello, I am interested in making a model of the PWR reactors, does anyone have plans for the typical model of this type of nuclear power plant? I need to know where the control room is, thank you.

Anyone have any insight on what impacts the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo ruling will have on NRC rules?

One thing that comes to mind for me is I can see the industry challenging on any requirements related to beyond design basis accidents, in particular LOLA/B.5.b requirements.

I can even imagine challenges on certain design basis accidents (when was the last time anyone had a rod ejection accident?).

Thoughts?

Hi all, firstly, apologies, this might be a long post. I'll leave a TL;DR. Secondly, I'm UK-based whereas I imagine this sub is quite US heavy.

I've been in nuclear for ~3 years in a large American services company. I spent ~2.5 years in equipment reliability, and at least a year of that time trying to move into a team closer to my degree in Physics. At the start of the year, I got my move into a nuclear and thermal-hydraulic transient analysis team. The work is much more interesting to me, but I feel I lost experience over that time since there are graduates who started after me who are no longer graduates while I still have junior in my title. I would've hoped that by now I'd have relocated to a city too, but that's a bit harder when you need mentorship in a new area.

Anyway, I recently applied to an entry-level criticality safety role at another company, and have the interview next week. Financially, an offer would be amazing, with:

• At least a 33% increase in salary, it's even plausible that after a year or so of working there, my salary would be over 50% of the current one.
• A bonus; the current company doesn't have one.
• An increase in holidays for years served, and there is TOIL available.
• A 16% employer contribution pension.
• And I believe the working hours would be shorter.
• The workplace would be much closer too and commutable by public transport from a nearby city, even if the city isn't as far as I'd like to go.

The company isn't a consultancy but does play a key part in the nuclear life-cycle with customers around the world. I know that I wouldn't have the same opportunities as in my current company, which are very varied and include projects in SMRs, AMRs, fusion, new build, or operations support.

I'm worried that if I was offered, and accepted, the position I might box myself in early in my career and make any lateral moves to other areas of the industry more difficult, especially considering the limited experience I have in transient analysis as it stands. The role would involve learning nuclear codes, although, this would most likely be MONK, the UK criticality code which I believe doesn't have as many applications as MCNP, it does have some common usability with MCBEND, a shielding code, though.

I was hoping someone in criticality and/or UK-based could offer some general advice, or information on the transferable skills between criticality and other areas of the industry, or even other industries, for example, medical or space applications.

TL;DR: I applied for a job with vastly better T&Cs but potentially has a much narrower scope of possible work which I think could limit my career in the future. Any advice or comments?

I have a background in software engineering but I want to pivot to nuclear or fusion because it more closely matches my ambitions and purpose. I only have a BS in Computer Science and Cognitive Science and a few years of software industry experience. What are some ways I can break into the field? I imagine a Masters or PhD in plasma physics or nuclear engineering (and related) alone will not be as impactful as directly gaining work experience at DoE or private sector.

What are some avenues I can try? Have any of you done/heard of similar pivots?

https://www.livemint.com/industry/energy/india-to-add-7-new-nuclear-reactors-increase-power-generation-capacity-by-70-in-5-years-minister/amp-11719330939139.html

We are trying to do some life planning and determine where we want to settle down. With me being in the nuclear industry I started to whittle it down based on preferences. Ultimately, we kind of came out leaning towards the north east, buttttt it turns out that is kind of a void for nuclear employment. I like the idea of having several options in one area so I don't have to move again if I want a new job. We don't want to live west of the red line and most likely not outside of the yellow lines. The red circles are \"nuclear concentration areas\". The best option right now is basically Knoxville. In the northeast no so much.

Hello everyone, I am starting a nuclear engineering master in September.

To give some context I studied chemistry and I might lack some programming skills and advanced mathematics knowledge so I should be focusing these areas.

Furthermore I will need to do an obligatory subject about Economics because in chemistry that matter is not taught.

Do you have any tip or advice that might be useful or something that you wished have known?

Thank you in advance.

I’ve had an interest in nuclear for a long time but felt it was hard justify going down a career path in it because the US seemed generally disinterested in building new nuclear. But after finding this sub recently and especially seeing the top posts on it right now it feels like that is starting to change.

Currently I am an electrical engineer in my mid 20s working in renewables. My current goal is to work towards getting my PE in electrical and I’m curious if there would be a demand for electrical PEs if the US starts to really make a commitment to build more nuclear? I feel like this a transition from renewables to nuclear could be feasible but I’m not sure and any insight on it would be appreciated.

Hey all! I’m currently working as an ML Engineer but I’m interested in getting involved in Nuclear Engineering/Operations. I’m expecting an initial pay cut, but I am just evaluating different career options and I’m passionate about nuclear. I spoke with a navy recruiter about the enlisted nuclear track and unfortunately I couldn’t get an age waiver (I’m 33). Any thoughts or advice on how I could get involved in the space would be appreciated. I have a M.S in applied mathematics.

I like both subjects and have researched them a lot, I haven't and any sort of professional education yet (I'm 15) but I wanna know what people think I should do

https://www.nucnet.org/news/mhi-has-almost-finished-design-of-next-generation-nuclear-power-plant-6-2-2024

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Committee-to-evaluate-nuclear-power-option-for-Nor