Virtual Event — “Nuclear Power – Reliable, Clean and Affordable” by Professor Alireza Haghighat

This talk provides an overview of nuclear reactor technology, focusing on both current GW-level reactors and emerging designs. It highlights the key challenges for nuclear deployment, such as high capital costs, safety concerns, nonproliferation, waste management, and grid compatibility.

The presentation introduces advanced reactors, particularly Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with outputs ranging from 20 MWe to 300 MWe per module, which aim to tackle these challenges and support the goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. The talk covers three main reactor categories: Light Water Reactors (LWRs), molten salt reactors, and gas-cooled pebble bed reactors. Each design’s advantages, disadvantages, fuel cycle, and potential for process heat and hydrogen generation are discussed. Additionally, Microreactors, generating 1-20 MWe, are introduced as ideal solutions for non-traditional energy markets, such as remote areas and space exploration.

SMRs and Microreactors are positioned as viable, clean alternatives to coal and gas plants, offering flexible solutions for microgrids and baseload power. The speaker cites a Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) study indicating that achieving zero carbon emissions in the U.S. by 2050 requires 90 GWe of new nuclear power, equivalent to 300 SMRs of 300 MWe. The talk underscores the need for major investments in workforce training, public engagement, and Used Nuclear Fuel (UNF) recycling to meet this goal, including the use of Accelerator Driven Microreactors (ADMs) to generate process heat and reduce radiotoxicity of nuclear waste from about 300,000 years to 300 years.

Date: October 14, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Registration: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/435735

University of Akron students looking for Co-op positions – can you help?

Students from The University of Akron’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology (EEET) program will be graduating and looking for employment in May. With the COVID pandemic, the process may be somewhat different for both employers and perspective employees this year. Students in our program are graduating with either Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in EEET. Employers can post positions and review resumes on the university Handshake system.

If you have a position announcements for the program bulletin board or to share them electronically with students you can forward the information to Professor Andrew Milks P.E. at aem36@uakron.edu. The EEET programs are now part of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science and we are housed in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. More information about the EEET and other departmental programs can be found at https://www.uakron.edu/engineering/ece/.

Canton Engineer for A Day Program Needs Computer Company Sponsors

The Canton Joint Engineering Council (CJEC) is looking for computer related companies (employing computer engineers) located in the Canton, Ohio area to participate in an Engineer for a Day program which offers Senior High School students opportunities to spend part of a day with an engineer during Engineers Week in February. We find that there are more and more students interested in computer engineering but not many companies available to accommodate one or more students in this discipline. If you know of a company or someone who works for a company in the Canton area that hires computer engineers, please contact Brian Werner at brian.werner@timken.com. Thanks for any input.

Executive Committee Meeting (EXCOM)

The next ExCom meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8.

ExCom meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm at the Waterloo Restaurant in Akron, or on Zoom when necessary. Please contact Jim Dowey at jldowey@msn.com if you wish to participate. All members are welcome to attend.