Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing The 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

In this episode we discuss... Bill’s personal evolution in the nuclear industry, including his work at USNRC and General Director of the NEA --- A history of the NEA and OECD --- Bill’s work developing technology programs within the US Department of Energy, including the advanced light water reactor and programs encouraging college students to study nuclear engineering --- The Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee and its Nuclear Energy Research Initiative --- How Bill helped prevent nuclear engineering programs from collapsing in universities across the US with investments from Congress --- The Generation for International Forum and its work promoting nuclear --- How Japan has responded to reinforcing its nuclear infrastructure against earthquakes after Fukushima --- A deep dive into the Nuclear Innovation 2050 initiative and its work to expedite the nuclear cycle --- What’s in store for the future

In this episode we discuss... Milko’s personal evolution in the nuclear industry and his work at the International Atomic Energy Agency --- Light water reactors versus pressurized water reactors --- Chernobyl and the design deficiencies that had to be addressed following the accident --- Long term systems for radioactive waste and spent fuel management --- Steps to guiding countries towards becoming nuclear --- A look at the processes and timelines involved in becoming a nuclear country --- The future of small modular reactors --- Challenges the world may have to overcome with the surge of interest in nuclear energy 

In this episode we discuss...  David’s background in industrial engineering and work at the Idaho National Laboratory --- David’s current and future work at IAEA --- A deep dive into different radioactive wastes and the regulations surrounding their management and disposal --- Carbon capture and sequestration --- How our agricultural practices (particularly soil conservation) affects climate change --- Gen 4 reactors and their advanced fuel cycles --- The economics of a closed fuel cycle versus an open fuel cycle -- Different recycling schemes including MOX fuel with recycled plutonium --- Technical solutions to integrate nuclear with renewable energy systems --- The correlation between poverty and energy poverty and ways in which solving the latter can solve the former ---

In this episode we discuss... Malcolm’s background in psychology --- Malcolm’s work in public perception and nuclear politics at the Atomic Energy Authority and beyond --- A summary of Malcolm’s books including Civil Nuclear Energy and Double or Quits: The Future of Civil Nuclear Energy --- A look at the relationship between the public, scientific-technical sphere, and political spheres --- The political and psychological aftermath of Fukushima --- Why the general public is afraid of nuclear despite it being the safest energy source --- Ways in which the nuclear industry can improve its communications strategy to dispel fear --- The lethal pitfalls of regulations surrounding radiological protection --- Why “nuclear going wrong is better than coal going right” --- 

In this episode we discuss... Bernard’s personal path through various nuclear institutions including his position as Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Areva A history of the nuclear industry and France’s many contributions A deep dive into fusion energy and the processes involved Energy’s fundamental role in the world’s social and economic development The ins and outs of ITER’s research surrounding nuclear fusion and plasma physics And where Bernard sees the future of nuclear

In this episode we discuss... Valerie’s diverse educational background and how it applies to her job today Her personal evolution through the nuclear field The French Nuclear Society’s research surrounding nuclear and the environment including safety and waste, climate, air pollution, biodiversity, and the use of worldwide resources The unique, symbiotic relationship between the French government and the French Nuclear Society and how more countries can adopt a similar dynamic Valerie’s positive outlook on the future of nuclear and human progress

In this episode, we discuss... Fiona’s background and her personal evolution in the nuclear field A deep dive into Boron Neutron Capture Therapy and how it works to treat cancerous tumors A breakdown of NNL and its role in the nuclear field Fiona’s outlook on nuclear’s development cycle and whether or not it can be expedited District heating and why applying nuclear to heat can increase cost efficiency The steps Fiona believes necessary to nuclear’s success as a sustainable energy source

In this episode, we discuss... - His personal path through various nuclear institutions including Argonne and his current efforts at Nuclear-21 - Nuclear sustainability and the pros and cons of different ways to handle spent fuel - Hurdles including challenges with qualification and supply and market that nuclear must leap to become truly accepted as a sustainable energy option - And where Luc sees the future of nuclear

In this episode, we discuss... A deep dive into the economics of nuclear power.   The evolution of the uranium enrichment industry and the processes involved.   Causes behind significant fluctuations in the value of uranium throughout history.   The enrichment capabilities of different countries.   Separative work units and how they apply to enrichment processes.   The necessity for negative bidding in the nuclear industry.   A look at Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison’s respective impacts on the electric and nuclear industries.   An explanation for the multiple definitions of SMR (Small Modular Reactors).   The grave pitfalls of market-driven approaches to energy and their impact on climate.   Historical symptoms of climate change including the receding glaciers.   Approaches we can adopt to decrease energy’s cost of capital.  

In this episode, we discuss... Troels' personal evolution and how he came to start Seaborg Technologies.   How Seaborg has advanced to become the largest technical reactor development team beyond Asia.   Compact molten salt reactors and how they work to increase nuclear sustainability.   Troels' optimistic outlook on the future of nuclear technology.   The impact of nuclear energy on both global warming and global poverty.