Message from the Program Chair of Nuclear Engineering at Ohio State

We have completed our first academic year with the Semester system.  In spite of the challenges with the conversion of the courses to the new schedules and increase in the minimum course enrollment requirements, the transition has been relatively smooth. As of Spring 2013, the Nuclear Engineering Program (NEP) has 35 full-time graduate students and 1 part-time graduate student.  Nine additional graduate students in other PhD programs are being supported by a number of the NEP faculty due to the interdisciplinary nature of the projects involved. Our undergraduate Nuclear Engineering Minor Program is strong with 26 graduated in the past two years. The NEP currently has 6 full-time and 4 part time faculty.  We have also received 1 clinical faculty line and 1 line to be shared with the Department’s Thermal Group.

 

 

 

The research funding continues to be strong.  Ongoing projects include:

• Methodology development for passive component reliability modeling in a multi-physics simulation environment, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $518,547 (2011-2014)

• Pathway aggregation in the risk assessment of Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection (PR&PP) of nuclear energy systems, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $534,471 (2011-2014)

• Nuclear power for space colonization research and technology development - Phase I,  Ohio Aerospace Institute, $315,408 (-2013)

• Testing of sapphire optical fiber and sensors in intense radiation fields, when subjected to very high temperatures, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $822,150 (-2015)

• Characterization and modeling of neutron and gamma-ray radiation damage in silicon carbide semi-conductor materials and silica optical fibers at cryogenic temperature, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, $194,000 (-2015)

• On the radiation sensitivity and failure mechanism of critical radiation- hardened robotic components, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, $450,000 (2012-2015)

• A high temperature tolerant and radiation-resistant in core neutron sensor for advanced reactors, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $455,629 (-2014)

• Gadolinium-based GaN for neutron detection with gamma discrimination, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, $200,000 (-2013)

• Advanced reactors-intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) coupling: Theoretical modeling and experimental validation, University of Idaho, $410,032 (2012-2015)

• Investigation of countercurrent helium-air flows in air-ingress accidents for VHTR, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $357,500 (2009-2013)

• Science-based simulation model of human performance for human reliability analysis, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $74,800 (-2013)

• ARPS: An Automated Reliability Prediction System, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, $321,674 (-2014)

• Study of interfacial interactions using thin film surface modification: Radiation and oxidation effects in materials, University of Wisconsin, $37,762 (-2013)

• Design, testing, and modeling of the direct reactor auxiliary cooling system for AHTRs, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, $1,366,627 (2010-2014)

 

We have also received new external funding to the amount of $3M from U.S. Department of Energy in terms of Nuclear Energy University Program awards and an additional $1M in junior faculty development grants, fellowships/scholarships and curriculum development awards. 

Ohio State is a member of the five-university consortium consisting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Ohio State, and Oregon State University working with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop the new generation reactors.  Within the scope of consortium activities, Ohio State houses a Center for Nuclear Safety and Licensing. The Center is partially funded by INL at a total rate of $200,000/year. Other major facilities include a high temperature gas dynamics loop, a molten salt loop (under construction), a prototype for a distributed digital test facility (under construction) and 100-node UNIX cluster.

As some of you may already know, the Program has had an Advisory Board for 12 years. The Board has been invaluable in terms of the guidance it has provided for the strategic planning of Program directions, as well as helping to identify and acquire external research support.  The current makeup of the Board consists of prominent figures from academia, industry, national laboratories and government agencies and meets twice a year in Columbus. Last three visits of the Board members were coordinated to take place in conjunction with the American Nuclear Society Ohio State Student Chapter annual banquet which provided a better dialogue between the Board and students. We are extremely grateful for the Board’s contribution to our growth and productivity.