2013 Annual Report

] Annual Report 2012-2013

Texas A&M Nuclear Engineering

] Annual Report

2012-2013

M ission

To serve our state, our nation and our global community by nurturing future nuclear engineering professionals and leaders who are: • instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior; • prepared to meet the complex challenges associated with sustainably expanding peaceful uses of nuclear energy;

• enhancing global nuclear security and avoiding the dangers of

nuclear proliferation.

Vision

To develop and maintain a nationally and internationally recognized program that promotes a passion for understanding and applying the knowledge of nuclear science and engineering to support the nation's alternative energy, national security and health care missions.

History The decision to enter the field of nuclear engineering was made in 1957 while Dr. John C. Calhoun was dean of engineering. Our AGN-201 nuclear training reactor was purchased and installed in the mechanical engineering shops building under the direction of Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi in 1957. In 1958, the Academic Council approved the recommendation of the Executive Committee that a Department of Nuclear Engineering be created and that graduate programs in nuclear engineering be authorized. At that time, only two degree programs were administered: an M.S. and a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering. The undergraduate program was established in 1966.

On the cover: The Department of Nuclear Engineering is the only program in the country with two operating reactors. The AGN-201M reactor has a 5W AGN-201M nuclear reactor that teaches fundamentals of nuclear reactor operations and interactions of neutrons with matter ,sand lets students conduct experiments on basic reactor physics parameters.

Welcome from the

t n e m t r a p De

Head

It is my pleasure to present the 20122013 Annual Report of the activities of our department for the past year. Great things are happening in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M. This past September, we celebrated our 55th anniversary, which was a huge success.

It was such a pleasure to visit with former and current students during the three days. As the Dwight Look College of Engineering embarks on its bold initiative to increase enrollment to 25,000 students by 2025, as well as transform the educational experience, our department is experiencing growth in research and enrollment.

To this end, we seek improvement each year in providing more opportunities and support for the students, forging more partnerships in industry, national labs and government, and incorporating a stronger, more interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach to our teaching and research.

I invite you to review this report and hope you are pleased by the achievements in the past year; none of it would be possible without your spirit, energy and support.

Former and current students, faculty, staff, colleagues, and our partners in the industry--we give our thanks to you for these numbered achievements.

and Dr. Radek Skoda has succeeded Dr. Reece as director.

I hope you enjoy this summary of the department’s activities, and plan to be a part of what is to come. With changing times come new initiatives and new aspirations, and we hope to continue to improve upon the program that is already In this annual report, we highlight the the largest and one of the best in the achievements of our faculty and students nation. With your continued interest and from the past year. Some of our most support, we can accomplish much. Visit significant achievements include the 25 us should you have the chance, and if you percent growth of our undergraduate have any questions about our department, student body, and the 41 percent growth please contact me. of our graduate student body, during the past seven years. The department’s Sincerely, research awards for fiscal year 2012 were over $12.9 million.

We’ve had some changes and advancement in our faculty this year. Dr. Lin Shao has been promoted to associate Yassin A. Hassan professor. Dr. Dan Reece has retired as Department Head and Sallie & Don Davis the director of the Nuclear Science Center, ‘61 Professor in Nuclear Engineering

Table of Contents Texas A&M Nuclear Engineering Department at a Glance

6

Scholarships & Fellowships

9

Our Students Around the World

10 11 12

The Dwight Look College Of Engineering at a Glance Nuclear Engineering Department News Briefs

16 &17 18 24 26

Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council and the 25 by 25 Initiative Faculty Profiles

Graduate Students: Theses and Dissertations Department Celebrates 55th Anniversary

New Mexico Nuclear Facilities Experience: WIPP and Sandia NSSPI: 7th Annual Summer School in Tomsk, Russia Year 3: GNEII Graduation Ceremony and Symposium Professor Participates in IAEA Meeting on “Deep-Burn” Concepts Nuclear Engineering China Study Abroad NPI: Nuclear Energy Management School and Power Set, WIT Programs NSSPI Leads Nuclear Facilities Experience in Japan FCML Researches Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor ITP Completes NASA DoVER Project: Ready for 2014 Suborbital Flight Make an Impact, Leave a Legacy

Distinguished Former Student Awards

28 30 31 32 33 5 3 & 4 3 36 38 39 40 41

6

2013 Annual Report

323 Undergraduate Students

255 B.S. Nuclear Engineering 68 B.S. Radiological Health Engineering

140 Graduate Students

75 M.S. Nuclear Engineering 11 M.S. Health Physics 54 Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering

(Source: TAMU OISP, Fall 2012 Semester)

U.S. News & World Report Rankings Program rankings among public institutions

2 Undergraduate 3 Graduate $10.2 million research expenditures* $12.9 million research awards* 138 Total publications

*Fiscal year 2013

Incoming Undergraduate Students (Fall 2012)

Incoming Students 58 total students 1259 SAT (Math + Verbal) 28.2 ACT Composite

1 National Hispanic Scholar 1 National Merit Scholar 84.5 percent of incoming freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school class

25.9 percent of incoming freshmen were first generation college students 56 Texas residents 2 out-of state students

White Asian/ Pacific Islander Hispanic Black Female Male RHEN NUEN

2013 Annual Report 32 Total Faculty

7

Student Organizations:

17 Tenured/Tenure-track faculty Professors 7 White 8 Associate professors Asian/ 2 Pacific Assistant professors Islander 2 Senior Lecturers 1 ProfessorHispanic of Practice 9 Research Faculty Black 3 Professor Emeritus

Alpha Nu Sigma Honor Society American Nuclear Society Health Physics Society Institute of Nuclear Materials Management Women in Nuclear

Female Male RHEN

Incoming Graduate Students

NUEN

Incoming Students 35 759 556 3.523

total students GRE Quantitative Average GRE Verbal Average Average GPR

White

(Fall 2012)

International Hacettepe University, Turkey Kyung Hee University, South Korea National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan University of Science & Technology, China

34.3 percent of incoming graduate students come from the department’s undergraduate program

Domestic Colorado School of Mines

International Hispanic

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Francis Marion University Kansas State University

Black Female

Louisiana State University Pennsylvania State University Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Male Ph.D. NUEN M.S. HLPH M.S. NUEN

University of California, Santa Barbara University of Florida University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Texas at Austin

Total Undergraduate Degrees awarded Student Enrollment over past 4 years

2013 Annual Report 120 120 120 100 100 100 80 80 80 60 60 60 40 40 40 20 20 20 0 0 0 350 350 350 300 300 300 250 250 250 200 200 200 150 150 150 100 100 100 50 50 50 0 0 0

Total Graduate Student Enrollment

8

150 140 135 131 150 140 135 150 140 131 135 120 131 110 120 104 98 110 120 104 110 98 90 104 98 75 90 69 62 90 75 61 69 75 54 60 52 62 69 61 61 62 61 54 54 60 52 61 34 54 60 32 52 31 45 54 61 30 34 54 20 32 31 45 16 15 34 13 32 31 45 11 11 30 20 16 30 150 130 200 111 110 161 15 13 0 11 Fall ‘07 Fall ‘08 Fall ‘09 Fall ‘10 Fall ‘11 Fall11‘12 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Fall ‘07 Fall ‘08 Fall ‘09 Fall ‘10 Fall ‘11 Fall ‘12 Fall ‘07 Fall ‘08 Fall ‘09 Fall ‘10 Fall ‘11 Fall ‘12

71 71 71 32 32 19 32 19 7 619 7 67 2009-2010 6

108 108 108

87 87 87

68 68 68 36 36 36 15 815 155 8 4 8 54 2010-2011 54 2010-2011

45 45 45 24 24 9 24 7 92 97 2011-2012 72 2 2011-2012

39 39 27 39 2721 2718 21 3 21 18 18 3 2012-2013 3

Total B.S. TotalNUEN M.S. NUEN TotalNUEN B.S. B.S. RHEN M.S.NUEN NUEN Ph.D. NUEN M.S.RHEN NUEN B.S. M.S. HLPH B.S. RHEN Ph.D. NUEN Ph.D. NUEN M.S. HLPH M.S. HLPH

2009-2010 2012-2013 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

237 237 194 237 194 194

43 43 43

253 253 208 253 208 208

45 45 45

291 291 291 233 233 233

58 58 58

331 331 331 260 260 260

71 71 71

310 310 310 244 244 244

66 66 66

323 323 323 255 255 255

Total B.S. TotalNUEN TotalRHEN B.S. B.S. NUEN B.S. NUEN B.S. RHEN B.S. RHEN

68 68 68

Fall '07 Fall '08 Fall '09 Fall '10 Fall '11 Fall '12 Fall '07 Fall '08 Fall '09 Fall '10 Fall '11 Fall '12 Fall '07 Fall '08 Fall '09 Fall '10 Fall '11 Fall '12

Total M.S. TotalNUEN Total Ph.D. NUEN M.S. NUEN NUEN M.S. HLPH Ph.D. NUEN Ph.D. NUEN M.E. NUEN M.S. HLPH M.S. NUEN HLPH M.E. M.E. NUEN

2013 Annual Report

s p i h s r a l o h Sc

Richard Vega ���������������������������������� Adams Family Scholarship Connor Woolum ������������������������������ Bill R. Teer ‘55 Scholarship Ryan Brito ������������������������������������������ DOE NEUP Scholarship Christopher Pannier ���������������������������� DOE NEUP Scholarship Aaron Holgado ������������������������� E. Gail de Planque Scholarship Michael Krutak ������������������������� E. Gail de Planque Scholarship Lily Raabe ����������������������Eloise Vezey Dromgoole Scholarship Dylan Singh ��������������������Eloise Vezey Dromgoole Scholarship Kelli Humbird ��������������������������� Harold J. Giroir, Jr. Scholarship Silas Marrs ������������������������������� Harold J. Giroir, Jr. Scholarship Lance Merchant ����������������������� Harold J. Giroir, Jr. Scholarship Brandon Rosales ��������������������� Harold J. Giroir, Jr. Scholarship Cameron Singleton ����������������� Harold J. Giroir, Jr. Scholarship Landon Brockmeyer ������������ Jeff W. Simmons ‘85 Scholarship Kevin Miller �������������������������� Jeff W. Simmons ‘85 Scholarship Robert Seager ���������������������� Jeff W. Simmons ‘85 Scholarship Timothy Crook ����������������������Mitty C. Plummer ‘65 Scholarship

Fellowships

James Miller ����������������������������������������DHS DNDO Fellowship Zachary Kulage �������������������������DHS NE Forensics Fellowship Peter Maginot ������������������������������������������� DOE CS Fellowship Hayes Stripling ����������������������������������������� DOE CS Fellowship Andrew Till ����������������������������������������������� DOE CS Fellowship Joshua Hansel �������������������������������������� DOE NEUP Fellowship Vishal Patel ������������������������������������������ DOE NEUP Fellowship William Sames �������������������������������������� DOE NEUP Fellowship Charles Stratton ������������������������������������ DOE NEUP Fellowship Jessica Feener ������������������������������������ DOE NNSA Fellowship Claudio Gariazzo ���������������������������������� DOE NNSA Fellowship Braden Goddard ���������������������������������� DOE NNSA Fellowship Michael Hackemack ��������������������� MUSC Rickover Fellowship Ryan Kelly ������������������������������������� MUSC Rickover Fellowship

9

Gabrielle Avila ����������� Neff-Poston Health Physics Scholarship Daniel Custead ���������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Lainy Dromgoole �������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Leigh Ann Emerson ���������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Andrew Hohertz ���������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Rachel Jagielski ���������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Sara Loupot ���������������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Drew Mitchell �������������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Andres Morell-Pacheco ���������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Jonathan Scherr �������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Karyn Stern ���������������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Clay Strack ���������������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Laura Sudderth ���������������������Nuclear Engineering Scholarship Joseph Perl �����������������������������R.D. Neff Memorial Scholarship Mclan Amos ����������������������������������������������� Stinson Scholarship Ryan Brito ������������������������������������������������� Stinson Scholarship William Cook ��������������������������������������������� Stinson Scholarship

Robert Zedric �������������������������������������������������� NNIS Fellowship Royal Elmore ����������������������������������������������������NSF Fellowship Kristina Yancey ������������������������������������������������NSF Fellowship Merinda Volia ���������������������������������������������Fulbright Fellowship Michael Gorman ��������������������������������������������� NRC Fellowship Jon Hansen ����������������������������������������������������� NRC Fellowship Daniel Holladay ����������������������������������������������� NRC Fellowship Micheal Smith ������������������������������������������������� NRC Fellowship Christopher Chance ���������������������������������������� INPO Fellowship Chase Gilmore ������������������������������������������������ INPO Fellowship James Uhlemeyer ����������������������������������������NSBRI Fellowship Cheuk Lau ������������������������������� National Excellence Fellowship Arnulfo Gonzalez ������������������������������ OGS Diversity Fellowship Jose Trevino ��������������OGS Pathways to Doctorate Fellowship

10

2013 Annual Report

s t , from Across the World n e d u t S r u O

Facilities & Centers

Accelerator Laboratory AGN-201M Nuclear Reactor Laboratory Center for Large-scale Scientific Simulations (CLASS) Fuel Cycle and Materials Laboratory (FCML) Institute for National Security, Education and Research (INSER) Interphase Transport Phenomena Laboratory (ITP) Laser Diagnostics Multiphase Flow Laboratory

Research Areas

None Undergraduate Graduate Both

Energy and System Design Engineering Fuel Cycles and Materials Health Physics Medical Physics Radiation Transport

Micro-Beam Cell Irradiation Facility NASA Space Power Center Nuclear Heat Transfer Systems Laboratory Nuclear Power Institute (NPI) Nuclear Science Center (1MW Triga Reactor) (NSC) Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) Radiation Detection Measurement Laboratory Tandem Accelerator Laboratory

Security, Safeguards, Nonproliferation and Policy Thermal Hydraulics and Reactor Safety Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification in Multiphysics Simulations

2013 Annual Report

Dwight Look College of Engineering Enrollment, Fall 2012 8,397 undergraduate 2,884 graduate

$282.3 million in engineering research expenditures

11

U.S. News & World Report national rankings Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M 6 graduate 8th undergraduate th

(among public institutions)

(American Society for Engineering Education)

Engineering Certificate Program The Dwight Look College of Engineering has designed the certificate programs below to offer students the opportunity to go beyond the traditional curriculum and gain specific knowledge in a concentration area. The certificates are of great value, both to the students who pursue them and to potential employers who seek candidates who posses competencies developed from earning them.

• Energy Engineering Certificate • Engineering Project Management Certificate • Engineering Scholars Program Honors Certificate • International Engineering Certificate • Polymer Specialty Certificate • Safety Engineering Certificate • Business Management Certificate for Engineering Students

Undergraduate Research Scholars The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program provides motivated undergraduates the opportunity to engage in mentored, in-depth research experiences. Undergraduate research scholars engage in a two-semester research experience (fall/spring academic year) conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor that culminates in a written thesis or other scholarly project, as determined by the scholar and his or her faculty adviser. The objectives of the programs are to involve motivated undergraduates in a complex research project that emulates the “graduate student” experience and to introduce the student to the academic publication process and the scholarly community.

12

2013 Annual Report

Science, Space and Technology. Read more at nsspi.tamu.edu.

Nuclear Engineering faculty Participate in A&M Panel in Washington, D.C. Erchinger Attends International Seminar on Global Nuclear Human Resource Development Graduate s t u d e n t Jennifer Erchinger was nominated by department faculty to attend and Nuclear Engineering faculty Dr. William Charlton, Nuclear Security Science and participate in The Second International Policy Institute (NSSPI) director; Dr. K. Seminar on Global Nuclear Human Lee Peddicord, Nuclear Power Institute Resource Development for Safety, (NPI) director; Dr. Charles Hermann, Security and Safeguards, Feb. 18professor in the George Bush School 26, 2013 in Tokyo. She attended as of Government and Public Service a representative of students from the and director of the Master’s Program department and from Texas A&M. in International Affairs at Texas A&M, traveled to Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, Erchinger is currently working with 2012 to participate in a panel discussion, NSSPI faculty member Dr. Craig “The Role of Research Universities in Marianno and earned her master’s degree in health physics spring 2013.

Nuclear Science, Energy and Policy.”

Her primary research focus was in the The panel took place at the Rayburn development of a specialized radiation House Office Building in Washington, portal that will be used to scan livestock D.C. and was hosted by Texas A&M, following a radiological incident such the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment as a nuclear power plant accident or Station and the Nuclear Energy Institute. terrorist event.

The panel featured researchers from Texas A&M, the University of California, She is currently pursuing her doctorate Berkeley, and the University of at Texas A&M, continuing her research in nuclear emergency response issues.

Wisconsin-Madison.

The panel discussion centered on topics including nuclear energy, international collaborations and workforce development, policy, security, and waste. Attendees included Dr. Katherine Banks, dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering; representatives from the White House, U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department Energy, and the House Committee on

Goddard Lectures at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur From April 11-18, 2013, recent Ph.D. graduate Braden Goddard, a student of NSSPI, traveled to northern India to teach classes in the nuclear engineering department at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK).

Goddard gave a series of six, 75-minute lectures, covering such topics as nuclear safeguards, Monte Carlo methods, and nuclear security science.

These lectures were attended by two professors, two Ph.D. students, and eight Master of Technology (M.Tech.) students from IITK. This series of lectures was considered to be part of the class requirements for the M.Tech. students, and, as such, the M.Tech. students were also asked to pass a 30-minute oral exam to test their understanding of the concepts taught.

Throughout the experience, the IITK students were able to ask questions about what life is like in the U.S. for a Ph.D. student or a post-doc. Read more at nsspi.tamu.edu.

Chirayath Co-Supervises Students at South Africa’s North-West University NSSPI faculty member Dr. Sunil Chirayath was selected by the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at South Africa’s North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) to be the co-supervisor for two of their nuclear engineering graduate students.

Dr. Chirayath advised Ph.D. student Marina du Toit and M.Sc. student Sinenhlanhla Sihlangu in their research along with North-West faculty members Dr. Anthonie Cilliers and Dr. Vishnu

Naicker. Toit will be conducting research on the “Development of Generation III+ PWR Thorium based Fuels” and Sihlangu on the “Neutronic Study of a Block Type HTR using MCNP5 and SCALE6.”

Miller Travels to India to Lecture on Nuclear Security

Recent Ph.D. graduate James Miller, a student of NSSPI, visited the Nuclear Energy program at Pandit Deendayahl Petroleum University (PDPU) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, to give a series of lectures on nuclear security to students in the PDPU Nuclear Energy Masters of Technology (M.Tech.) program.

The five-week course ran from March 18 to April 20, 2013, and covered topics including the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear security, physical protection, and nuclear materials accounting. The five PDPU student participants are all first-year students with backgrounds in mechanical and electrical engineering.

To reciprocate the exchange, these students traveled to Texas A&M during the summer to participate in practical hands-on laboratory training in nuclear security to support the material covered in the PDPU course.

This exchange is being conducted in conjunction with Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. Department of State within the framework of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

2013 Annual Report

between PDPU and Texas A&M that was finalized in January 2013. Texas A&M entities participating in the MOA are the Department of Nuclear Engineering, NPI, and NSSPI.

and industrial and systems engineering departments.

13

The project, titled “Multidisciplinary Approach to Effectively Interdict In 2010, senior Ph.D. student Adam Highly Enriched Uranium Smuggling,” Hetzler gave a shorter series of similar addressed one of the grand challenges lectures at PDPU, and in 2012 a group articulated by the National Academy of two PDPU students (along with of Engineering, “Prevention of Nuclear Professor Shriram Paranjape, chair of Terrorism.” Only a few tens of kilograms the PDPU nuclear energy department), of highly enriched uranium (HEU) are visited NSSPI to receive hands-on required to build a nuclear bomb, but laboratory experience in measurement more than one million kilograms of HEU techniques to support the security of exists in the world. nuclear materials.

A concern is that HEU could be stolen James Miller was a Ph.D. student in and smuggled into the U.S., either as the Texas A&M Department of Nuclear HEU or as a nuclear weapon, for acts Engineering working with NSSPI director of nuclear terrorism. Securing the U.S. Dr. William Charlton. His dissertation borders against attempts to transport involved researching and monitoring HEU is a national priority. Current levels of uranium and other heavy nuclear material detection technology is metals in radiation workers through inadequate for several important HEU experimental electrochemistry, work he smuggling scenarios. One of the most performed during his internship with the difficult challenges is the interdiction Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group at of shielded HEU being smuggled into Los Alamos National Laboratory. the U.S. in cargo containers or border crossing vehicles.

NSSPI AggiE-Challenge Team The team was subdivided into two Participates in Texas A&M smaller teams focused on specific Engineering Project Showcase scenarios associated with this issue.

Team A presented the strategic network The AggiE-Challenge team, led by analysis to solve the problem for the faculty advisor and NSSPI faculty smuggling of HEU into the U.S. through member Dr. Sunil Chirayath, and graduate student adviser Evans Kitcher, was one of more than 100 teams to participate in the 2013 Texas A&M University Engineering Project Showcase April 19. The team consists of 11 junior- and seniorlevel undergraduate students from the nuclear engineering

14

2013 Annual Report

in 2008 and M.S. in health physics in border crossings in cars 2010 from Texas A&M University. His and trucks, and Team B presented the research interests include radiation strategic network analysis to solve the transport modeling and dosimetry. He problem for the smuggling of HEU into has interned at the National Institute the U.S. through sea ports in cargo of Standards and Technology and containers. For more information, visit the Naval Surface Warfare Center, nsspi.tamu.edu.

Carderock Division.

New Mexico Experience

Nuclear

Facilities

Vaghetto Presents Research Results at NURETH-15 in Pisa, Italy

The nuclear engineering department at Texas A&M sponsored 18 undergraduate students on a series of visits to nuclear facilities in New Mexico May 20-24, 2013.

While the main focus of the trip was for the students to experience Sandia National Labs, hosted by former student Dr. Steve Rottler ’80, the students also visited two regional nuclear fuel cycle facilities on the way.

Following a successful revival in 2012 of this tradition from more than 20 years ago, the trip was highly successful and enjoyed by all participants. [Read more about this trip on page 28]

activity on the natural circulation in the reactor cavity and the effect of graphite dispersion on the heat transfer mechanisms of the Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS). He continued the experimental work and computational analysis on the RCCS with his Ph.D. research, studying the capability of natural circulation of water to remove the heat from the reactor cavity of the High-Temperature GasCooled Reactor.

Former Student Joins DOE Criticality Safety Support Group

Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, Rodolfo Vaghetto, travelled to Pisa, Italy, to attend and present his research results at the 15th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics (NURETH-15) in Pisa, Italy.

The papers he presented were: R. Vaghetto, Y.A. Hassan, “Analysis of the Steady-State Phase of the Reactor Northum Wins Radiation Research Cavity Cooling System Experimental Editors’ Award Facility and Comparison with RELAP53D Simulations,” which summarized the Ph.D. student experimental and computational work Jeremy Northum of his Ph.D. research activity; and R. received the Vaghetto, D. De Luca, Y.A. Hassan, R a d i a t i o n “Analysis of the Thermal-Hydraulic R e s e a r c h System Response of a Pressurized Editors’ Award Water Reactor during Hypothetical Core for his publication Blockage Scenarios,” which described “ F L U K A the most interesting results achieved Capabilities for Microdosimetric during the research activity carried out Analysis.” He was awarded a plaque with STP. and cash prize when he attended the 59th Radiation Research Society Annual Vaghetto joined Dr. Yassin Hassan’s Meeting in New Orleans. Northum research team in 2009. He received received his B.S. in nuclear engineering his master’s in 2011 in experimental

Criticality safety expert Michaele C. “Mikey” BradyRaap ’81 from the Pacific Northwest N a t i o n a l Laboratory has been appointed a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Criticality Safety Support Group (CSSG).

Brady-Raap earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M. She was selected for her exceptional experience and knowledge, which includes 25 years of related experience.

She has provided technical and operational support of the criticality safety and nuclear engineering needs for NNSA and DOE related to waste tank storage and the transportation, storage, and disposal of commercial spent nuclear fuel.

Brady-Raap has been an invited lecturer and consultant for International Atomic Energy Agency meetings and training courses. She is also a member

of several Nuclear Energy Agency organizations, including serving as chair of the Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety and chair of the Expert Group on Burnup Credit Criticality.

She is an active participant in the American Nuclear Society’s Nuclear Criticality Safety Division, serving on its executive committee and as chair from 2002 to 2003. There she received the division’s Distinguished Service Award, recognizing her “outstanding leadership in the division governance, international studies, and division conferences.”

2013 Annual Report

The five-day program included exercises and tours that helped build upon the classroom work in nuclear security being conducted at each school. Texas A&M, MIT, and PSU are currently working together to establish a sustainable Nuclear Security Curriculum through support from the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) program. This is the first year that the three schools have jointly attended the Nuclear Security and Safeguards workshop, which has traditionally consisted of only Texas A&M students.

While at ORNL they participated in NSSPI Students and Faculty exercises and tours that helped further Take Part in Nuclear Security and the classroom education they are Safeguards Workshop at ORNL gaining through the GTRI program. Part of the group was supported directly by the GTRI Nuclear Security Education Program Office, while another part was supported by the Office for Material Protection, Control, and Accounting, also part of the National Nuclear Security Administration. To read more, visit nsspi.tamu.edu.

Six students from Texas A&M joined students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) to participate in a hands-on workshop on nuclear security and safeguards at the Safeguards Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Oct. 1519, 2012. Faculty members Dr. Craig Marianno from NSSPI and Dr. Brenden Heidrich from PSU also took part in the workshop, as did two students from the Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia who are currently interning at NSSPI. The workshop was led by ORNL staff members, including former NSSPI student Angela Thornton Lousteau, Dr. Alexander Solodov and Claudio Gariazzo, both of NSSPI.

Nuclear Engineering Graduate Students Win DOE Fellowships Three graduate students in the Department of Nuclear Engineering received fellowships through the DOE for 2013.

Josh Hansel, William Sames and Charles Stratton received the threeyear fellowships through the DOE’s Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP).

DOE awarded $5 million for 39 undergraduate scholarships and 31 graduate fellowships to students in nuclear energy-related engineering and science programs at universities across the country.

15

Frazer Scholarship to Benefit Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M Carol and Ross Frazer of College Station have endowed a scholarship for nuclear engineering undergraduates at Texas A&M. Their gift will establish the Carol Fox Frazer ’77 and G. Ross Frazer ’77 Scholarship. Matching funds from Ray Rothrock of Portola Valley, Calif., will increase the endowment to $25,000.

Preference will be given to applicants who participate in the Society of Women Engineers and in a cooperative education program.

“Texas A&M and its engineering school have been central to so much of what both Carol and I have been able to accomplish and enjoy,” Ross said. “We hope this effort will similarly equip future graduates and also inspire other class of 1977 engineers to do what they can.”

The Frazer’s have been longtime supporters of Texas A&M, contributing to both the Texas A&M Foundation and The Association of Former Students.

16

2013 Annual Report

Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council The mission of the Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council is to provide advice, support and counsel to the department head with the express purpose of helping to maintain the highest level of academic excellence so that its graduates remain at the forefront of the nuclear engineering professional practice in Texas and the nation.

The Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council shall accomplish this mission by working with the department head to strengthen the depth and breadth of our existing degree program specialty areas, help to foster constructive interactions with leading nuclear engineering practitioners, participate in the ABET accreditation process, and serve as a resource to the department’s faculty and students. The Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council provides advice to the department head as representatives of all department graduates as well as firms employing its graduates both in Texas and the nation.

• Carol Berrigan

Nuclear Energy Institute • Rafael Flores

Luminant Power • Thomas Geer

Westinghouse, Chair • Timothy Hurst

Hurst Technologies Corp.

• Dr. Regis Matzie

Westinghouse-retired, Co-Chair • Evelyn Mullen

Los Alamos National Laboratory • Dr. James Peery

Sandia National Laboratory • Tim Powell

South Texas Project • Sandra Sloan

B&W mPower, Inc.

• Dr. Russell Stachowski

Global Nuclear Fuel • Ron Stinson

Emeritus, Atlas Consulting Group • Richard Wolters

General Electric, retired • Dr. Finis Southworth

Areva, Inc. • Tom Hannigan

Zachry Nuclear, Inc. • Rube Williams

Jet Learning Laboratory • G.R."Ross" Frazer

ATP Oil & Gas Corp.

• Dr. J. Wesley Hines

Head of Nuclear Engineering,

University of Tennessee

2013 Annual Report

17

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced plans for Texas A&M University to grow engineering enrollment to 25,000 students by 2025 on January 23, 2013.

The 25 by 25 initiative was developed in response to the critical need to increase the engineering workforce of the state and the nation.

“In 2011, more than 10,000 students applied for only 1,600 undergraduate slots available in the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M, one of the top ranking public institutions for undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering,” Sharp said. “And universities from other states have set up offices to recruit our top students out of Texas. As a land grant institution, we are taking measures to provide access to a high quality engineering education for more students to keep our nation competitive in the global landscape.”

The initiative has three guiding principles: • Transform the educational experience to better prepare students to engage in and meet the future needs of the engineering marketplace; • Increase accessibility to engineering education at all levels and; • Deliver engineering education in a cost-effective and affordable manner.

The Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M is one of the largest and highly ranked engineering programs in the nation, with more than 13,000 engineering students enrolled. Texas A&M has graduated thousands of engineers who are having an impact on the world by addressing issues of critical importance.

The demand for engineering education at Texas A&M has never been higher. The Texas Workforce Commission has projected the need for engineers entering the workforce will increase significantly during the next 12 years. Texas A&M is stepping forward to meet this critical need for our state and nation.

Dr. M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor and dean of engineering, said the 25 by 25 initiative is not just about increasing enrollment, but also about providing better instruction and student opportunities.

“We cannot grow in the way that universities have traditionally grown, by simply spending more,” Banks said. “We are looking at a model that ultimately leverages our existing resources to deliver a high-quality education in a cost-effective manner. In addition to increasing our enrollment, we will be transforming engineering education to mold the engineer of the future.”

For more information, visit engineering.tamu.edu/25by25.

Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Ph.D., P.E., Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering

18

2013 Annual Report -Faculty Profiles

Marvin Adams

HTRI Professor of Nuclear Engineering Director, Institute of National Security Education and Research Ph.D., University of Michigan mladams@tamu.edu Computational transport theory, efficient algorithms for massively parallel scientific and engineering calculations, quantification of uncertainties in predictive science & engineering

Gamal Akabani Associate Professor Ph.D., Texas A&M University akabani@tamu.edu

Medical sciences, biomedical engineering, nuclear medicine imaging, nuclear oncology, radiation Monte Carlo transport, radiation oncology, radiotherapy physics, radiobiology, PK/PD and PBPK modeling, basic immunology, and radiopharmaceutical research

David Boyle Deputy Director, Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology dboyle@tamu.edu Safety and efficiency of plutonium storage, disposition approaches

Leslie Braby Senior Lecturer TEES Research Professor Ph.D., Oregon State University labraby@tamu.edu Radiation dosimetry, microdosimetry, biological effects of radiation, microbeam lab, food irradiation

William Charlton

Associate Professor Director, Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute Ph.D., Texas A&M University wcharlton@tamu.edu Nuclear nonproliferation and international security, reactor physics and fuel cycle analysis, reactor experimentation and nuclear data development

2013 Annual Report

Sunil Chirayath Visiting Assistant Professor TEES Research Scientist Ph.D., University of Madras, India sunilsc@tamu.edu Monte Carlo transport methods in reactor physics and radiation shielding, Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) core physics simulations, safeguards approaches and analysis for FBR fuel cycles

John Ford Associate Professor ABET Coordinator Ph.D., University of Tennessee thasl@tamu.edu Response of intact tissues to ionizing radiation and a microbeam is required to determine how the response of individual cells in a tissue are modified by neighboring unirradiated cells

Stephen Guetersloh Assistant Professor Ph.D., Colorado State University guetersloh@tamu.edu Space weather, experimental particle physics, effectiveness of composite materials as radiation shields, radiation transport modeling, accelerator shielding design

Ron Hart

Professor Emeritus Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley rhart@tamu.edu Ion beam interactions, neutron transmutation doping, radiation effects

Yassin Hassan Sallie and Don Davis ‘61 Professor Department Head Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign y-hassan@tamu.edu Computational and experimental thermal hydraulics, reactor safety, fluid mechanics, two-phase flow, turbulence and laser velocimetry, imaging techniques

19

20

2013 Annual Report -Faculty Profiles

Cable Kurwitz

Lecturer TEES Associate Research Engineer Ph.D., Texas A&M University kurwitz@tamu.edu Reduced gravity thermal management, modeling of high dimensional data, data classification, and model validation, nuclear power systems

Craig Marianno Visiting Assistant Professor TEES Research Engineer Ph.D., Oregon State University marianno@tamu.edu

Nuclear counter terrorism, nuclear instrumentation development, exercise development, radiological consequence management, environmental health physics

William Marlow

Professor Undergraduate Program Adviser Ph.D., University of Texas w-marlow@tamu.edu

Physics of molecular clusters and small particle interactions (aerosols), applications in materials, radioactivity and disperse materials, environmental and health protection

Ryan McClarren Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Michigan rgm@tamu.edu

Uncertainty quantification, numerical methods for radiation transport, multiphysics simulation, high-performance computing

Sean McDeavitt

Associate Professor Director, Fuel Cycle and Materials Laboratory Ph.D., Purdue University mcdeavitt@tamu.edu Nuclear materials science, nuclear fuel behavior and processing, materials processing in the nuclear fuel cycle, high temperature materials science

2013 Annual Report

Warren “Pete� Miller TEES Distinguished Research Professor Ph.D., Northwestern University wmiller@tamu.edu

Analysis of policy options for the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, nuclear fuel recycle, breeding plutonium, elimination of transuranics

Jim Morel

Professor and Associate Department Head Director, Center for Large-Scale Scientific Simulations Ph.D., University of New Mexico morel@tamu.edu Monte Carlo methods and hybrid deterministic/ Monte Carlo methods, discretization and solution techniques for multiphysics/multiscale calculations

Paul Nelson

Professor Emeritus TEES Research Engineer Ph.D., University of New Mexico p-nelson@tamu.edu Transport theory, computational methods, management of nuclear materials

Natela Ostrovskaya Senior Lecturer Ph.D., Texas A&M University natela@tamu.edu

Mathematical and computer modeling of radiation response of human tissues, predicting changes occurring in tissues following radiation insult

Kenneth Peddicord

Professor Director, Nuclear Power Institute Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign k-peddicord@tamu.edu Behavior of nuclear fuels, reactor systems and design, fissile materials disposition, MOX fuels, generation IV nuclear power systems, nuclear generated hydrogen, hydrogen economy, nuclear workforce

21

22

2013 Annual Report -Faculty Profiles

John Poston

Professor Associate Director, Nuclear Power Institute Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology j-poston@tamu.edu External and internal dosimetry

Jean Ragusa

Associate Professor Associate Director, Institute for Scientific Computation Ph.D., Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble jean.ragusa@tamu.edu Numerical methods for multiphysics simulations, computational techniques for neutral particle and electron transport, nuclear fuel assembly and reactor design

Dan Reece

Professor Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology w-reece@tamu.edu Radiation transport, assessment of effective dose equivalent, medical application of radioisotopes, dosimetry, uses for research reactors

Richard Schultz Professor of Practice Ph.D., Idaho State University rschultz@tamu.edu

Design, scaling, specification, and conduct of thermal-hydraulic experiments, verification and validation of advanced thermal-hydraulic engineering numerical models

Lin Shao

Associate Professor Ph.D., University of Houston lshao@tamu.edu

Materials science and nanotechnology, radiation effects in nuclear and electronic materials, ion beam analysis

2013 Annual Report

Radek Skoda

23

Visiting Lecturer TEES Assistant Research Engineer Director, Nuclear Science Center Ph.D., Czech Technical University rskoda@tamu.edu Economics of nuclear power, nuclear research reactors, neutron detection

Pavel Tsvetkov Associate Professor Ph.D., Texas A&M University tsvetkov@tamu.edu

System analysis and optimization methods, complex engineered systems, system design, symbiotic nuclear energy systems,waste minimization, sustainability, HTGRs & cogeneration systems, direct nuclear energy conversion systems

Galina Tsvetkova Lecturer Senior Research Associate Ph.D., Texas A&M University tsvetkovag@tamu.edu

Reactor physics, small nuclear power and cogeneration applications, nuclear data management systems, isotope separations, molecular dynamics and separations phenomena

Karen Vierow Associate Professor Graduate Program Adviser Ph.D., University of Tokyo vierow@tamu.edu

Thermal hydraulics, multiphase flow, particularly condensation heat transfer, reactor safety, severe accident analysis, reactor design

Some of our invited speakers.. .

• Darius Lisowski, Ph.D. candidate, Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison • Dr. Akira Omoto, past commissioner, Japan Atomic Energy Commission

• Dr. Dennis D. Keiser, Jr., Nuclear Fuels and Materials Division, Idaho National Laboratory • Dr. Mark Deinert, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

• Dr. Dharanipathy Rangaraj, director of radiation oncology medical physics, Scott & White • Mr. Daud Mohamad, deputy director general, and head, department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, IAEA

24

2013 Annual Report

Fall 2012 -Summer 2013

Dissertations and Theses Doctor of Philosophy

Student Name

Faculty Adviser

Dissertation Title

Sangjoon Ahn

Dr. Sean McDeavitt

Comprehensive Investigation of the Uranium-Zirconium Alloy System: Thermophysical Properties, Phase Characterization and Ion Implantation Effects

Shaoyong Feng

Dr. Les Braby

Angelo Frisani

Dr. Yassin Hassan

Braden Goddard

Dr. Bill Charlton

Matthew Grypp

Dr. Craig Marianno

Adam Hetzler

Dr. Marvin Adams

Sandeep Irukuvarghula

Dr. Sean McDeavitt

Michael Martin

Dr. Lin Shao

James Miller

Dr. Bill Charlton

Heteroepitaxial Self-Assembling Novle Metal Nanoparticales in Monocrystalling Silicon Investigation of Trace Uranium in Biological Matrices

Christopher Myers

Dr. Bill Charlton

Quantitative Methodology for Assessing State-Level Nuclear Security Measures

Michael Myers

Dr. Lin Shao

Toward Understanding Dynamic Annealing Processes in Irradiated Ceramics

Jeremy Northum

Dr. Stephen Guetersloh FLUKA Simulation of the Radiation Environment on the Surface of Mars

Tara Pandya

Dr. Marvin Adams

Long Characteristic Method with Piecewise Linear Sources in Space and Time on Unstructured Grids for Transport Problems

Adam Parkison

Dr. Sean McDeavitt

Separation of Zirconium From Uranium in U-ZR Alloys Using a Chlorination Process

Matthew Sternat

Dr. Bill Charlton

Development of Technical Nuclear Forensics for Spent Research Reactor Fuel

Hayes Stripling

Dr. Marvin Adams

Bruno Turcksin

Dr. Jean Ragusa

Hong-Chan Wei

Dr. Yassin Hassan

Reference Radiation for Cosmic Rays in RBE Research Direct Forcing Immersed Boundary Methods: Finite Element Versus Finite Volume Approach Quantitative NDA Measurements of Advanced Reprocessing Product Materials Containing U, NP, PU, and AM An Analysis of a Spreader Bar Crane Mounted Gamma-Ray Radiation Detection System Quantification of Uncertainties Due to Opacities in a Laser-Driven Radiative-Shock Problem Solid State Phase Transformations in Uranium-Zirconium Alloys

Adjoint-Based Uncertainty Quantification and Sensitivity Analysis for Reactor Depletion Calculations Acceleration Techniques for Discrete-Ordinates Transport Methods with Highly Forward-Peaked Scattering CFD Analyses of Flow Structures in Air-Ingress and Rod Bundle Problems

Master’s of Science in Health Physics Student Name

Faculty Adviser

Jennifer Erchinger

Dr. Craig Marianno

Jeremy Rogers

Dr. Craig Marianno

James Uhlemeyer

Dr. John Ford

Thesis Title Investigating the Operational Capabilities of Custom and Pedestrian Portal Monitoring Systems for Screening Livestock for Radioactive Contamination Modeling Study of Proposed Field Calibration Source Using K-40 Source and High-Z Targets for Sodium Iodide Detector Contour Collimation Systems to be Used for Murine Irradiation

2013 Annual Report Master’s of Science in Nuclear Engineering

25

Student Name Brian Barnhart

Faculty Adviser Dr. Sean McDeavitt

Thesis Title Characterization of Zr-Fe-Cu Alloys for an Inert Matrix Fuel for Nuclear Energy Applications

Bradley Beeny

Dr. Karen Vierow

Thermal Hydraulic Analysis of a Reduced Scale High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Test Facility and its Prototype with MELCOR

Tianyi Chen

Dr. Lin Shao

A Study of UO2 Grain Boundary Structure and Thermal Resistance Change Under Irradiation Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Yuan Di

Dr. Yassin Hassan

Experimental Observation and Measurements of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Using PIV, Shadowgraphy and RICM Techniques

Kevin Dugan

Dr. Jean Ragusa

Dynamic Adaptive Multimesh Refinement for Coupled Physics Equations Applicable to Nuclear Engineering

Daniel Eichel

Dr. Sean McDeavitt

Atomic Diffusion in the Uranium-50wt% Zirconium Nuclear Fuel Systems

Jordan Evans

Dr. Dan Reece

Improving Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Using Nuclear Nanotechnology

Matthew Fitzmaurice

Dr. Craig Marianno

Developing a Methodology for Characterizing the Effects of Building Materials’ Natural Radiation Background on a Radiation Portal Monitoring System

Michael Hackemack

Dr. Gamal Akabani

Characterization of a Stochastic Procedure for the Generation and Transport of Fission Fragments within Nuclear Fuels

Joshua Hansel

Dr. Jean Ragusa

Solution Techniques for Single-Phase Subchannel Equations

Matthew Johnson

Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov

Application of Next-Generation Sensor Systems in HTRs

Ryan Kelly

Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov

Pebble-Bed Nuclear Reactor System Physics and Fuel Utilization

Alexandra Khudoleeva

Dr. Sunil Chirayath

Conceptual Development of Remote Monitoring System for PWR Spent Fuel Dry Cask Storage through Neutron and Gamma Transport Simulations

Evans Kitcher

Dr. Sunil Chirayath

Performance and Safety Analysis of a Generic Small Modular Reactor

Akansha Kumar

Dr. Jim Morel

Measure of Diffusion Model Error for Thermal Radiation Transport

Annabelle Le Coq

Dr. Bill Charlton

Design of a Safeguards Instrument for Plutonium Quantification in an Electrochemical Refining System

Michael Leimon

Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov

Coupling Interface for Physics-to-System Simulations

Jonathan Madsen

Dr. Gamal Akabani

Generic Model for Molecule-based Low-Energy Electromagnetic Cross Sections in Biological Systems

Sergiy Manolov

Dr. Jim Morel

Hybrid Sn/Diffusion and Sn/P3 Neutronics Calculations

Patrick McDermott Dr. Karen Vierow

Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis of Seed-Blanket Unit DUPLEX Fuel Assemblies with VIPRE-01

Eowyn Pedicini

Drs. William Charlton Passive Neutron Detection in Ports for Homeland Security Applications and Craig Marianno

Jeremy Rogers

Dr. Craig Marianno

Modeling Study of Proposed Field Calibration Source Using K-40 Source and High-Z Targets for Sodium Iodide

Joshua Smith

Dr. Jean Ragusa

Enhanced Thermal Conductivity UO2-BeO Nuclear Fuel: Neutronic Performance Studies and Economic Analyses

Matthew Solom

Dr. Karen Vierow

Breaking the Tension: Development and Investigation of a Centrifugal Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector System

Scott Stewart

Dr. Bill Charlton

Investigating Correlated Neutrons from Pulsed Photonuclear Interrogation for Treaty Verification Applications

Chad Thompson

Dr. Sean McDeavitt

A Rotating Electrode System for the Generation of Metal Alloy Microspheres

Huhu Wang

Dr. Yassin Hassan

CFD Analysis of Core Bypass Flow and Crossflow in the Prismatic Very High Temperature Gas-cooled Nuclear Reactor

Huali Wu

Dr. Yassin Hassan

Heat Transfer Simulation of Reactor Cavity Cooling System Experimental Facility Using Relap-3D and Generation of View Factors Using MCNP

26

2013 Annual Report

Department thof Nuclear Engineering 55 Anniversary The department welcomed more than 250 former students, current students, and guests Sept. 5-7, 2013 to celebrate the department’s 55th anniversary.

The three-day event included a special lecture on Thursday with guest speaker Michael Shellenberger, cast member of Pandora’s Promise, in which he gave an exclusive talk to the department, followed by a dinner and poster session with the advisory council.

Friday kicked off with a breakfast, warm welcome and talk of the department history, since established in 1958, by Dr. Yassin Hassan, department head, and speakers Bill Jones, former regent of the Texas A&M University System, Judge Mike Ford of Glen Rose County, Tim Powell ’81 of the South Texas Project, and Dr. Michaele “Mikey” BradyRaap ’81 of Pacific Northwest National Lab. Michael Shellenberger, activist, Pandora’s Promise cast Bill Jones, former regent for the Texas A&M University System

Later that afternoon, after lunch with speaker Dr. Pete Miller, TEES Distinguished Research Professor, lab and reactor tours were offered.

Wrapping up Friday was a screening of documentary Pandora’s Promise, in which we filled the largest audience for the viewing at the Rudder Theatre Auditorium, which seats 2,500. After Pandora’s Promise, the celebration banquet was preceeded by a cocktail hour in the Forsyth Gallery in the Memorial Student Center.

During the celebration banquet we announced the department’s 2013 Distinguished Former Students, Dr. James Peery ‘84, Powell ‘81, Rafael Flores ‘79, Ronald Stinson ‘53, and Brady-Raap ‘81.

Saturday wrapped up our celebration with our annual tailgate just outside the Association of Former Students building. We had more than 100 current and former students, faculty and staff attend.

To the left, Ray Rothrock ’77 (left), executive producer, and Robert Stone (right), director of Pandora’s Promise, look on at Dr. Waltar’s presentation during the celebration banquet.

2013 Annual Report

We would like to thank all of the former students and guests for making the trip to College Station to celebrate this very special milestone for the department. A special thanks to Ray Rothrock ’77 for facilitating the screening of Pandora’s Promise. To view more photos of the event, you can visit our Flickr site at http://bit. ly/1hPZajZ. A very big thank you to those who donated toward the anniversary: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

David Barker ’66 Michael Blasdel ’71 William Charlton ’95 Joe Vincent Everett ’76 Tom Geer ’81 Tom Hannigan Craig Harrington ’78 James Lee ’68 Xiuchun Luan Warren Miller Rebecca Onuschak ’94 Theodore Parish Ray Rothrock ’77 Philippe Tissot ’93 Andrey Troshko ’96 Galina Tsvetkova ’03 Stephen Vrana ’82 Gangyang Zheng

Dr. Alan Waltar, former department head

27

28

2013 Annual Report

New Mexico Nuclear Facilities Experience

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University sponsored 18 undergraduate students on a series of visits to nuclear facilities in New Mexico May 20-24, 2013.

While the main focus of the trip was for the students to experience Sandia National Labs, hosted by former student Dr. Steve Rottler ’80, the students also visited two regional nuclear fuel cycle facilities on the way.

"I participated in what we then called the 'senior trip' to Idaho National Engineering Laboratory in January or February of 1980. This was my first exposure to a national laboratory and it influenced me heavily in my decision to pursue a Ph.D. and my choice of an employer, though I ended up at SNL rather than INEL. Prior to that trip, I was not yet locked into going to graduate school and was not thinking about a career at a national laboratory," said Rottler, vice president, California Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories.

This year, the participants were given an additional tour of the URENCO USA Uranium Enrichment Facility of Eunice, N.M., where they witnessed the business of enriching uranium for use in nuclear power reactor fuel. URENCO USA is the first nuclear facility in 20 years to receive a construct and operate license in the U.S. and the first to use centrifuge technology. Construction of the facility began in 2006, and authorization to operate came from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission in June 2010. URENCO USA has been producing enriched uranium since that time. URENCO USA continues to expand its capacity with a goal of 5.7 million tSWU/annually.

The URENCO facility explained how they were a service provider to customers who desired enriched uranium in order to eventually fabricate uranium oxide fuel for light water reactors. The URENCO facility provided various technical and logistics personnel to discuss the plant’s operations and associated nuclear material control and accounting measures for the purposes of international safeguards and responsible facility operations. Safeguards Group Manager Amy Johnson led the material control and accounting discussions for the students. The experience proved beneficial to the students by exposing a potential career path for soon-to-be graduating nuclear engineers. For the visit, the participants were split into smaller groups which toured the facility and included visits to the emergency operations center, shipper/receiver area, feed/withdrawal stations, interior of autoclaves, exterior of cascade halls, and analytical laboratories for QA/QC and MC&A. The second facility visited by the participants was the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) of Carlsbad, N.M. WIPP staff member Abe Van Luik presented a comprehensive history of the area (reasons why area was chosen for WIPP: Guadalupe Mountains, Permian

2013 Annual Report

29

Basin, etc.) that concluded with an informational WIPP operations video. Once all participants were fitted with appropriate safety tools (emergency mining kit, hard hat, light, brass tags), the entire group entered the conveyance together and were lowered into the salt mine.

The experience then ended at Sandia National Laboratories where the participants entered Kirtland AFB to visit Sandia’s Technical Area-V (TA-V) area. After a lab overview by David Keese, Michael Hessheimer presented an overview of the various major environmental test facilities located there. Of those facilities, the Texas A&M group visited two: the Centrifuge Complex and the Mechanical Shock Facility. These facilities showed the Texas A&M students another area of nuclear engineering they could venture in: military applications. During a host-provided lunch, a presentation was given

by Randy Gauntt on Sandia’s activities supporting the post Fukushima Dai-ichi event. This impressed many students on another area open to them as nuclear engineers (and that they’re more familiar with): post-event management. After the lunch meeting, the group was taken to another TA-V area: the Applied Nuclear Technology Facilities where the group witnessed a unique experimental nuclear capability at Sandia (the Sandia Pulsed Reactor Facility) and the Gamma Irradiation Facility. The students were then shown the (now-mothballed) Sandia Pulsed Reactor II and III for pulsing experiments (up-cycled from the LANL Godiva reactor) and the currently used SPR Critical Experiment Facility (SPRF/CX). Furthermore, the group visited the unique large gamma irradiation facility where very high level gamma radiation experiments can be done in large room-sized glove boxes (large enough for an Abrams tank to be irradiated).

"Sandia gains something of value from these visits because we are able to showcase our lab to the future talent we need to be successful in executing our mission," Rottler said. "Personally, I viewed hosting these visits and spending time with the students as yet another opportunity to give back to the nuclear engineering department and Texas A&M as a way of expressing my gratitude for all the department and university provided me — the foundation for the realization of my career aspirations. I also view supporting the students as an important part of my responsibilities as a technical professional."

Ending the day’s visit, the group transferred to the International Programs Building located off-site to visit the Technology Training and Demonstration Area: a museum-like walkthrough of SNL’s nonproliferation, safeguards, security, and arms control activities created for Congressional exhibitions. Here, students learned about weapons dismantlement activities, border and facility security activities, advanced nuclear safeguards development, cyber-security activities and biological/chemical weapon response activities at SNL. Lastly, SNL (David Keese and invited participants) hosted a panel session on potential Sandia employment that the students said they found very enlightening and informative.

The department would like to thank everyone involved in making this trip such a success: Sandia National Labs, WIPP, URENCO. A special thanks to Clint Williamson, vice president of government affairs, URENCO USA, for hosting the group at URENCO; and Roger Nelson, chief scientist, Carlsbad Field Office, DOE, for hosting the group at WIPP; and David Keese, director of Sandia’s Integrated Military Systems Center, for hosting the group at Sandia.

Thanks to Dr. Kenneth Peddicord, Claudio Gariazzo, and Cory Hearnsberger for attending this trip alongside our students.

30

2013 Annual Report

NSSPI: Seventh Annual Nuclear Nonproliferation Summer School Aug. 7-18 2013, NSSPI students and staff joined students and faculty from Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk State University, and several other Russian and Ukrainian universities at the seventh annual Summer School for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy in Tomsk, Russia. The summer school gives students from both technical and policy backgrounds the opportunity to meet international peers, experience a different culture, engage in dialogue on security, safeguards, and nonproliferation related concerns, and interact with experts from various international organizations.

This year’s summer school curriculum consisted of lectures, negotiation exercises, and simulations. Topics for lectures included IAEA safeguards, international relations theories, and international organizations governing nonproliferation. The negotiation exercises and simulations were unique activities for the students to engage and work with others from different cultures and academic disciplines. For the first activity, the students were put on two teams representing fictional countries attempting to resolve an issue of trust during an inspection. The exercise covered a number of real life inspection struggles. A second, larger simulation exercise assigned groups of students to represent one of five countries, with each student playing a particular role.

The goal of this exercise was to encourage the students to collaborate for determining a prescribed response to a possible Iranian nuclear program while playing a role very different than what they are accustomed to in their country. The students each represented a country different from their own, which provided them the opportunity to broaden their international understanding.

On the last day of the summer school, students presented group projects on various nonproliferation topics.

On the last day of the summer school, students presented the final product of a weeklong collaboration on a variety of nonproliferation topics. Split into five groups, the students chose topics to explore and present to the rest of the participants.

While in Russia, the NSSPI delegation also traveled to the Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) to discuss continuing research and education collaboration between TPU and Texas A&M under the formal agreement signed last year between the two institutions.

This year’s summer school was organized and sponsored by Tomsk State University, Battelle Memorial Institute, and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.

2013 Annual Report

31

Year 3 : GNEII Graduation Ceremony and Symposium The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) concluded its third year with a graduation ceremony and two-day symposium on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards held at the Abu Dhabi campus of Khalifa University May 19-20, 2013. The 20 fellows who participated in the program this year represented the largest graduating class for GNEII since its inception. This year's fellows came from across the Gulf Cooperation Council states, specifically from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

The symposium was opened by Michael H. Corbin, the US Ambassador to the UAE; Dr. Kenneth Hall, Texas A&M at Qatar; Dr. David Boyle, deputy director of NSSPI, who also served as a GNEII instructor; master of ceremonies Dr. Michael Schuller, NSSPI and GNEII faculty coordinator. Representatives from the United Arab Emirates entities, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, Ambassador Michael H. Corbin, and Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority, Khalifa University, the U.S. U.S. Ambassador to the UAE Department of State, Texas A&M, and Sandia National Labs were also in attendance.

At the symposium, the GNEII fellows presented nine capstone projects, which represented the culmination of the 12-week GNEII course. These projects addressed a wide range of topics and included "Pyrochemical Reprocessing," "A Qualitative Assessment of Fuel Fabrication Options in the UAE," "An Emergency Preparedness Plan for Radioactive Materials," and "A Suitable Mobile Lab for UAE Conditions."

During the graduation ceremony, Abdelaziz Al Madhloum, GNEII manager said, "GNEII's mission is to develop a responsible nuclear energy culture and institutionalize key safety, security, safeguards and nonproliferation norms in the future decisionmakers of the gulf region nuclear energy programs by providing professional development and training events like this one."

Sandia Labs and NSSPI teamed up to help establish GNEII in 2011 as a Khalifa University institute housing a regional education program offering both classroom instruction and hands-on experience in topics related to nuclear energy safety, security, safeguards and nonproliferation. Conceived as a response to the growing interest in nuclear energy among Middle Eastern nations, GNEII strives to promote a nuclear energy security and safety culture in countries in the region with nascent nuclear energy programs. The program is sponsored on the U.S. side by the International Nuclear Safeguards and Engagement Program at the U.S. Department of Energy / National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Partnership for Nuclear Security, which is a program of the U.S. Department of State's Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction.

NSSPI has worked with Sandia National Laboratories to develop the curriculum and supply the instructors for the modules.

32

2013 Annual Report

Professor Participates in IAEA Meeting on “ Deep-Burn” Concepts Dr. Pavel Tsvetkov, associate professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering, participated in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Meeting on Development of “Deep-Burn” Concepts Using High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Coated Particle Fuel for Incineration of Nuclear Waste, Surplus Fissile Materials and Plutonium without Recourse to Multiple Processing.

The meeting was held at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna Aug. 5-7, 2013. The purpose of this meeting was to explore various Deep-Burn options and concepts being developed in Member States and to appraise the progress made towards the maturity of deep-burn concepts based on HTGR designs.

Tsvetkov reported on studies he conducts with his

students on deep-burn high-temperature reactor focusing on transuranic material (TRU) utilization and nuclear waste management.

“Nuclear power carries known advantages and challenges. We envision that development and deployment of deep-burn systems will allow synergistically balancing those while addressing the concerns,” Tsvetkov said.

The decade-long efforts to develop and assess perspectives of a deepburn high temperature reactor (DB-HTR) in Tsvetkov’s group started in 2004 and have been supported via a series of federally funded projects focused on TRU utilization and nuclear waste management scenarios via specially designed HTRs. The decade-long program is focused on fuel utilization, in-core management and optimization recognizing the unique ability of HTRs with prismatic cores to be loaded and reloaded in 3-D. The work further evolved and expanded toward advanced sensors, 3-D mapping, and fission product management. A significant portion of research and development is dedicated to validation efforts.

2013 Annual Report

33

Nuclear Engineering China Study Abroad Over the 2013 summer, Texas A&M nuclear engineering undergraduate students were presented with an extraordinary opportunity to spend 17 days in China studying alongside students from Harbin Engineering University (HEU). The summer school had 16 Texas A&M and 20 HEU students and faculty participate. It was jointly organized by the Department of Nuclear Engineering and the School of Nuclear Science and Technology at HEU. This is the second year that the program took place, after a successful first school was organized in 2012. This program includes six days of lecture at HEU and 11 days of travel to visit nuclear power plants under construction.

At Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant near Dalian, students toured the CPR1000 power plant unit (French design) and were graciously given the opportunity to look inside the containment building and the steam turbine room. In Beijing, students learned about the first Chinese nuclear power plant design, the ACP1000. At Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant, students learned about the AP1000 Westinghouse PWR design. At Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, student visited various training centers including the one for spent fuel loading. The trip provides insights into the growing Chinese nuclear energy program and provides a better understanding of nuclear safety. The ability to see concepts in the classroom being implemented in the field greatly enhances the students’ understanding.

34 2013 Annual Report NPI Hosts Nuclear Energy Management School The Nuclear Power Institute (NPI) at Texas A&M, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), hosted a threeweek Nuclear Energy Management School (NEMS) for young professionals working in nuclear energy and related fields. NPI is a center in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES). The NEMS included participants from 11 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. The school features lecturers from the United States government, U.S. industry, the IAEA and other international experts in nuclear-related fields.

“We are delighted to have hosted the Nuclear Management School for the first time it has been held in the Western Hemisphere,” said Dr. Kenneth L. Peddicord, NPI director. “This is an excellent collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. “This activity has a significant impact, especially for ‘newcomer’ countries that are considering the use of nuclear energy for the first time. This school is important in highlighting the strategies to use nuclear power in a safe and effective way. We are pleased to be able to share our experiences here in the U.S. and in Texas.”

The purpose of the NEMS is to provide a unique international educational experience aimed at building future leadership to manage and support nuclear energy programs and projects in the nuclear energy field. It targets professionals with managerial potential who show promise as future leaders in the nuclear industry, academia, government agencies and public sector entities in the country. Participants are able to share and transfer knowledge from internationally recognized experts in a wide range of activities critical to a sustainable nuclear energy program.

The NEMS consists of a series of keynote presentations and discussions on topics relevant to managing nuclear energy programs, case studies, practical sessions, group projects and visits to nuclear facilities.

Subject matter covered included: • • • • •

World energy balance and geopolitics Energy planning, energy economics and nuclear power economics and finance Nuclear industry, from planning to decommissioning Nuclear safety and security Nuclear law, international conventions and relevant mechanisms

• • • • •

Nuclear nonproliferation regime, safeguards and related international arrangements Human-resources development and knowledge management Leadership and management in the nuclear industry Networking and stakeholders Outreach to communities, schools and students.

Participants also had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta to meet with representatives of the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations and the World Association of Nuclear Operators. They visited the nuclear power plant construction site of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Waynesboro, Georgia.

To the left, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy of the Department of Energy Dr. Pete Lyons (front right), with some of the NEMS participants.

For more on NPI visit: http://nuclearpowerinstitute.org.

2013 Annual Report

35

NPI Programs POWER SET and WIT Impactful During the 2012-2013 academic year, the Powerful Opportunities for Women Eager and Ready for Science, Engineering, and Technology (POWER SET) and Workforce Industry Training (WIT) programs made pivotal use of partnerships with 10 targeted independent school districts, serving 227 high school POWER SET and another 227 WIT students. Many POWER SET and WIT activities have been developed including campus visits, industry site visits, educational field trips, and mentoring programs. These relationships and activities are crucial to the recruitment of students to address the mission of increasing the number of students in STEM programs.

Specific activities varied depending on each school district’s focus. However, all consisted of visits to STEM college/university departments for tours, demonstrations, attending faculty lectures on relevant topics, and participating in activities with STEMoriented industries and professionals that encompass career fairs, job shadowing, and mentoring. The success and outcomes of the POWER SET and WIT programs were extremely pleasing. After students participated in these programs, an average of 83 percent self-report that they will pursue STEM educations and career paths.

The programs have received a tremendous amount of positive attention and support from industry and state, federal, and international agencies. POWER SET and WIT participants give back by mentoring fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students. We have named these POWER SET and WIT mentoring components “Power GRID” (Girls Responding to Industry Demands) and “BRT” (Boys Resourcing Technology). Last school year, 298 elementary/middle school students participated in Power GRID and BRT with the goal of providing POWER SET and WIT members the opportunity to utilize their new-found motivation, knowledge, and academic enthusiasm in motivating pre-teen students to cultivate leadership skills, boost character development, and encourage STEM-subject acceleration.

As anticipated, the 2013-2014 school year is off to a great start with the same goals and objectives including an additional high school for a total of 11 school districts benefiting from our efforts.

36

2013 Annual Report

NSSPI Leads Nuclear Facilities Experience in Japan The Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) at Texas A&M University recently conducted the 2013 Nuclear Facilities Experience (NFE) in Japan.

The event was coordinated with the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) of the Japan Atomic Energy Authority.

The NSSPI is a center in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.

Participants in the NFE included students and professors from Texas A&M, the Tomsk Polytechnic University of Russia, and the Hanoi University of Science of the Vietnamese National University. Dr. William Charlton, NSSPI director and an associate professor in Texas A&M’s Department of Nuclear Engineering, and NSSPI associate research engineer Claudio Gariazzo led the group on tours of facilities and historically significant sites throughout Japan.

The NFE served as a unique opportunity for university students to visit nuclear fuel cycle facilities in Japan and discuss applied safeguards and security measures with actual practitioners and facility operators. The first day's activities included visiting the historically significant Hiroshima Peace Park and the Peace Memorial Museum as well as hearing 84-year-old Keijiro Matsushima's account of the Aug. 6, 1945, bombing of Hiroshima. Participants said it was a truly inspiring moment for all in attendance and properly conveyed the importance and gravity of the nuclear nonproliferation problem the world faces today.

The technical visits began at the MONJU fast breeder reactor R&D Center and the FUGEN Decommissioning Center on the Tsuruga peninsula where NFE participants met with facility operators and material control and accounting practitioners of both facilities and toured various areas open only for the NFE. The MONJU visit was to learn the unique implementation of the safeguards system for sodium-cooled FBR and convey the safety challenges of a sodiumbased coolant system. The visit to FUGEN was focused on the plutonium nondestructive assay system being installed and to understand the

2013 Annual Report

37

requirements of applied safeguards and safety measures for decommissioning an advanced thermal reactor facility.

Participants also visited the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and met with the applied safeguards specialists. Tours included visits to the fresh and spent fuel ponds as well as the containment vessel.

The group visited the host organization, ISCN, and other facilities at the site, namely the Plutonium Fuel Production Facility (PFPF) and the Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP). While at the ISCN, participants witnessed current research and development activities in physical security and met with the director of the center, Masao Senzaki (board member, Institute of Nuclear Materials Management-Japan). Charlton presented Senzaki with a plaque thanking the ISCN for its substantial contributions to the NFE and nuclear safeguards/ security education.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspector Georges Duhamel presented work completed by the IAEA on implementing safeguards to the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident and how the agency plans to meet the needs of long-term accounting of melted spent reactor fuel. The PFPF and TRP visits aimed to educate the NFE participants on the safeguards implementation on a mixed-oxide fuel-production facility and a reprocessing facility.

Students and professors at the Tokyo Institute of Technology hosted the NFE participants for a cultural excursion and a lunch.

During this activity, students representing the United States, Russia, Vietnam, Japan, China, and France interacted and held lively discussions from their own perspectives on nuclear energy, nonproliferation, global politics, sports, and cuisine.

On the final day of the event the NFE participants visited the Rokkasho Uranium Enrichment Plant, the Vitrification Storage Facility, and the Reprocessing Plant. Here students were able to step through the entire reprocessing process as well as discuss the applied nuclear security and safeguards measures with the facility practitioners.

“The Nuclear Facilities Experience aims to convey the importance and complexity of applied nuclear material safeguards measures at nuclear fuel cycle facilities,” Gariazzo said. “This year, we expanded the international exchange by including students and faculty not only from Texas A&M, but from Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia, Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan, and the Hanoi University of Science in Vietnam.

This activity would not have been possible without the assistance and coordination of staff at the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation at Japan Atomic Energy Agency and the substantial support from the NNSA’s International Nuclear Safeguards and Engagement Program Office.”

38

2013 Annual Report

FCML Researches Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor One of the six primary classes of Generation IV reactors currently being researched is the Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR).

There are numerous promising design features which may be achievable using SFR’s, including increased utilization of fissionable fuel content, breeding of further fissile fuel content, high-neutronic efficiency, more efficient burning of undesirable radioactive waste in-reactor, and the elimination of water-cladding interactions which may pose safety concerns for watercooled reactor designs. Some of these benefits, most notably the conversion of fertile isotopes to fissile isotopes and the reduction in overall radioactive waste, are most realized for extended fuel lifetimes, in which fertile to fissile breeding processes will eventually dominate reactor performance and the inventories of many radioactive fission products in the fuel will have effectively plateaued. Thus, the extension of fuel lifetimes for SFR designs to periods on the order of 10 to 40 years will have a strong impact on the overall desirability of the designs. However, the current knowledge base for fuel performance on which future SFR designs are based is limited to significantly shorter fuel lifetimes, on the order of one to two years. Because of these factors, one of the great challenges in designing advanced SFR’s lies in addressing how fuel performance and integrity can be assured over fuel lifetimes much longer than those previously used.

In the Fuel Cycle and Materials Laboratory (FCML) at Texas A&M, research is currently under way to address one of the primary challenges facing advanced SFR fuel: fuel-cladding chemical interactions (FCCI). As fission products accumulate and migrate within nuclear fuel, some react with cladding materials around the fuel. These interactions lead to the formation of intermetallics, which tend to crack under stress. With time, FCCI have the potential to weaken cladding to the point that it breaks open, releasing radioactive material into the coolant and contaminating the remainder of the reactor core and coolant loops.

Under the direction of Dr. Sean McDeavitt, Grant Helmreich, Ph.D. student, and Carissa Helmreich, TEES Research Engineering Associate, are conducting a massive diffusion couple study aimed at obtaining a better understanding of the science behind FCCI and possible methods to prevent these interactions. By testing a variety of representative cladding materials in contact with corrosive fission products, the researchers are determining what factors control the rate of degradation. In addition, by testing the effectiveness of a wide range of diffusion barriers in preventing interactions between fuel, corrosive fission products, and cladding materials, the researchers are ascertaining the effectiveness with which FCCI may be prevented and determining which materials are most suited as potential fuel liners.

The figure to the left is a backscatter electron image of the diffusion zone formed between HT-9 cladding and neodymium, which is one of the most corrosive fission products.

2013 Annual Report

39

NASA DoVER Project: 2014 Suborbital Flight Planned Ground demonstration of a variable heat rejection radiator technology was carried out by the Interphase Transport Phenomena Laboratory (ITP) at Texas A&M. Variable heat rejection is a critical technology identified by NASA, U.S. Department of Defense and commercial space organizations in support of the next generation of space missions, including NEO precursor robotic and crew-to-LEO missions.

The ability to change the heat rejection capability for the radiator provides mission flexibility important for operationally responsive space (U.S. Air Force) and enhances interplanetary or near-earth object missions (NASA). As missions became more ambitious, the turn-down or ability to handle high-energy rejection to low-energy rejection has increased. This phenomenon is driven by large swings in the effective sink temperature as well as varying thermal rejection requirements of the mission. The figure to the right represents three different heat rejection modes of the radiator. The red lines indicate hot liquid moving through the radiator while green indicates a noncondensible gas that shuts off a portion of the heat rejection area.

As shown conceptually in the figure below, the technology utilizes a vortex-type separator developed at Texas A&M and a passive jet pump to exchange working fluid in the radiator segments/lines with a noncondensable gas located in the phase separator. Warm liquid shown in red enters the radiator and is cooled with the cool liquid shown in blue returning to the pump and phase separator. Noncondensable gas, shown in green, can be used to displace liquid in the radiator to the separator/ accumulator based on the orientation of three-way latch valves located at the entrance and exit of either a single radiator line or a manifold of lines. The image to the right shows the reduction in thermal rejection as fewer radiator segments are being utilized. The reduction in active radiator area allows for variable heat rejection and nearly infinite turn-down capability.

Digital+Radiator+Development+

The recent activities at Texas A&M build on over 25 years of experience of the ITP laboratory in thermal management and are in support of suborbital flight testing that will take place in 2014.

40

2013 Annual Report

Make an Impact,

Leave a Legacy Education is a gift that keeps giving throughout one’s life, long after college is over.

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M has graduated more nuclear engineers since the early 1960s than has any other school in the country. More important than just the number of graduates is the quality of those graduates.

We go above and beyond to recognize the potential in students, and provide them with an education to be proud of. We continuously strive to inspire our students, faculty, and staff to be the best that they can be.

We stand by our vision: to develop and maintain a nationally and internationally recognized program that promotes a passion for understanding and applying the knowledge of nuclear science and engineering to support the nation’s alternative energy, national security and healthcare missions.

Our program is constantly evolving, and is focused on developing and strengthening every facet required to raise student achievement in and out of college. We aspire to be better, to improve year by year, and for that we require your support. The search for the best students is tougher than ever. As we continue our tradition of producing the high-quality nuclear engineers that the industry needs, a key factor is the ability to attract the most academically capable students.

Some of the best and brightest high school students cannot afford today’s tuition, and scholarships open up a world of possibilities to them. For others, a scholarship frees them from student jobs, giving them more time to follow their intellectual curiosity or to participate in Texas A&M’s character-building, student-led organizations.

There are many opportunities available for empowering the students of the department. Scholarships drive the spirit and guide the minds of generations of Aggies, so they can affect the world in productive and inventive ways. When you fund a scholarship, you’re making a profound difference for individual students and for the lives those students touch as graduates of Texas A&M. Contact Derek Dictson, Director of Development, to make a difference in a student’s life.

phone: 979.845.5113

email: d-dictson@tamu.edu

2013 Annual Report

41

Distinguished Former Students The department awarded two distinguished former student awards in 2012, one to Tom Geer ’81 for his continued support and involvement with the department, and the other to Sandra Sloan ’88 for outstanding early achievement.

Tom Geer is engineering and licensing vice president for Westinghouse Nuclear Power Plants. In this position, he oversees global licensing efforts and provides the engineering interface for Westinghouse AP1000® reactor and Small Modular Reactor projects. Geer has more than 30 years of management and engineering experience. Before his current position, he was fuel engineering vice president for Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel, where he was responsible for global PWR and BWR fuel hardware design, development and testing, as well as the technology development functions supporting nuclear physics, thermal hydraulic and fuel-performance methods for PWR and BWR fuel and reload core designs. Before joining Westinghouse in 2010, Geer served as nuclear engineering vice president for Duke Energy. Geer also spent eight years supporting the prime contractor on two different U.S. Department of Energy projects while assigned to Duke Engineering.

Geer chairs the Texas A&M Nuclear Engineering Advisory Council and serves on the North Carolina State Nuclear Engineering Department advisory board. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M. He also received technical nuclear certification at McGuire Nuclear Station and completed senior nuclear plant manager training through the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. Geer is a registered professional engineer in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Sandra Sloan joined the Idaho National Laboratory after graduation, where she worked in positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of thermal hydraulics and safety analysis. She then joined Siemens Power Corporation in Richland. Wash., which later was acquired by AREVA. While with AREVA, Ms. Sloan led the licensing activities for the U.S. European Pressurized Reactor, as manager of regulatory affairs for new plants. She is a recognized expert in the area of new plant licensing. Sloan is currently the manager of design integration and licensing at Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) mPower, overseeing a broad range of activities including process and procedure development, training, safety conscious work environment, design change control, human factors engineering, and operations integration, as well as licensing.

She is active in the American Nuclear Society (ANS), and is the immediate past chair of the ANS Operations and Power Division and a current member of the ANS Finance Committee. Sloan received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M. Sloan currently serves on the department advisory council.

]

Nuclear Engineering 337 Zachry Engineering Center 3133 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3133 979.845.4161 engineering.tamu.edu/nuclear

]