Nuclear engineering

Nuclear engineering is a specialized branch of engineering. It focuses on designing and applying systems that use energy from nuclear processes. This energy comes from the tiny parts that make up an atom. Most engineers use this energy to generate electricity for the world. Currently, 439 nuclear reactors operate in 31 different countries. These reactors provide 10 percent of the total energy used worldwide through nuclear fission.

There are two primary ways to release this nuclear energy. The first method is nuclear fission, where atomic nucleons are separated. The second method is nuclear fusion, where nucleons are brought together. Both processes release energy known as nuclear binding energy. This energy is much more powerful than the energy from chemical reactions. For example, fissioning just 1 gram of uranium yields as much energy as burning 3 tons of coal. It also produces as much energy as 600 gallons of fuel oil. Importantly, this process does not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

In a typical power plant, the process follows a specific sequence. First, nuclear reactions generate intense heat. This heat is used to create steam. The steam then flows to drive a steam turbine. Finally, the turbine turns an electric generator to produce electricity. Engineers must manage many different parts of this system. They study thermal hydraulics, which is how heat and liquids move. They also use materials science to ensure the plant stays strong and safe.

The history of this field began with a major discovery in 1938. This was the discovery of nuclear fission. While humans discovered it recently, the earliest known natural nuclear reaction happened much earlier. It occurred 1.7 billion years ago in Oklo, Gabon, Africa. The first artificial reactor was called CP-1. A team of physicists designed it because they were concerned about Nazi Germany. They wanted to understand fission before others could use it for weapons.

As technology grew, new milestones were reached in the mid-20th century. The X-10 Graphite Reactor was built as part of the Manhattan Project. Later, the Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) became the first reactor to generate electricity. This happened near Arco, Idaho, in 1951. By 1954, the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant became the first commercial plant connected to an electrical grid. The Shippingport Atomic Power Station followed in 1957. These developments moved nuclear energy from research labs to the real world.

Nuclear engineers work in many different specialized areas. Some focus on reactor design, moving from Generation I to Generation IV concepts. Others manage the nuclear fuel cycle. This involves obtaining fissile material and forming it into fuel. They also handle removing depleted fuel and storing it safely. Some engineers work on nuclear propulsion for naval vessels. Others use nuclear power for space travel, which has been happening since the 1960s. Even medicine uses these principles through nuclear medicine and medical physics.

The industry provides many jobs for highly trained people. In the United States, nearly 100,000 people work directly in the nuclear industry. When you include secondary jobs, the number rises to 475,000 people. Most U.S. nuclear engineers work in electric power generation, which accounts for 25 percent of jobs. About 18 percent work for the federal government. Another 15 percent work in scientific research and development. The future of the field looks very large. The IAEA estimates that nuclear energy capacity could grow by 40 percent by 2050. This would add an additional 514 GW(e) to the world's capacity.