Nuclear engineering is the engineering discipline concerned with designing and applying systems that utilize the energy released by nuclear processes.[1][2]
The most prominent application of nuclear engineering is the generation of electricity. Worldwide, some 440 nuclear reactors in 32 countries generate 10 percent of the world's energy through nuclear fission.[3] In the future, it is expected that nuclear fusion will add another nuclear means of generating energy.[4] Both reactions make use of the nuclear binding energy released when atomic nucleons are either separated (fission) or brought together (fusion). The energy available is given by the binding energy curve, and the amount generated is much greater than that generated through chemical reactions. Fission of 1 gram of uranium yields as much energy as burning 3 tons of coal or 600 gallons of fuel oil,[5] without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.[6]
Nuclear engineers work in such areas as the following:[7][8][9]
- Nuclear reactor design, which has evolved from the Generation I, proof-of concept, reactors of the 1950s and 1960s,[10] to Generation II, Generation III, and Generation IV concepts
- Thermal hydraulics and heat transfer. In a typical nuclear power plant, heat generates steam that drives a steam turbine and a generator that produces electricity
- Materials science as it relates to nuclear power applications
- Managing the nuclear fuel cycle, in which fissile material is obtained, formed into fuel, removed when depleted, and safely stored or reprocessed
- Nuclear propulsion, mainly for military naval vessels, but there have been concepts for aircraft and missiles. Nuclear power has been used in space since the 1960s
- Plasma physics, which is integral to the development of fusion power
- Weapons development and management
- Generation of radionuclides, which have applications in industry, medicine, and many other areas
- Nuclear waste management
- Health physics
- Nuclear medicine and Medical Physics
- Health and safety
- Instrumentation and control engineering
- Process engineering
- Project Management
- Quality engineering
- Reactor operations[11]
- Nuclear security (detection of clandestine nuclear materials)[12]
- Nuclear engineering even has a role in criminal investigation,[13] and agriculture.[14]
Many chemical, electrical and mechanical and other types of engineers also work in the nuclear industry, as do many scientists and support staff. In the U.S., nearly 100,000 people directly work in the nuclear industry. Including secondary sector jobs, the number of people supported by the U.S. nuclear industry is 475,000.[15]
Nuclear engineering was born in 1938, with the discovery of nuclear fission.[16] The first artificial nuclear reactor, CP-1, was designed by a team of physicists who were concerned that Nazi Germany might also be seeking to build a bomb based on nuclear fission. (The earliest known nuclear reaction on Earth occurred naturally, 1.7 billion years ago, in Oklo, Gabon, Africa.) The second artificial nuclear reactor, the X-10 Graphite Reactor, was also a part of the Manhattan Project, as were the plutonium-producing reactors of the Hanford Engineer Works. The first nuclear bomb was code named Gadget[17] which was used in the Trinity Nuclear Test.[18] The weapon was believed to have a yield of around 20 kilotons of TNT.
The first nuclear reactor to generate electricity was Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I), which did so near Arco, Idaho, in 1951.[19] EBR-I was a standalone facility, not connected to a grid, but a later Idaho research reactor in the BORAX series did briefly supply power to the town of Arco in 1955.
The first commercial nuclear power plant, built to be connected to an electrical grid, is the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant, which began operation in 1954. The second appears to be the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, which produced electricity in 1957.
For a brief chronology, from the discovery of uranium to the current era, see Outline History of Nuclear Energy or History of Nuclear Power.
See List of Commercial Nuclear Reactors for a comprehensive listing of nuclear power reactors and IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) for worldwide and country-level statistics on nuclear power generation.
In the United States, nuclear engineers are employed as follows:[20]
- Electric power generation 25%
- Federal government 18%
- Scientific research and development 15%
- Engineering services 5%
- Manufacturing 10%
- Other areas 27%
Worldwide, job prospects for nuclear engineers are likely best in those countries that are active in or exploring nuclear technologies[citation needed]:
More information Country ...
Country | Nuclear capabilities |
Algeria | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Argentina | See Nuclear Power in Argentina. |
Armenia | See Nuclear Power in Armenia. |
Australia | See nuclear sector and Australia's Uranium. |
Austria | "Austria operates one central radioactive waste management and interim storage facility –
Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH (NES) for pre-disposal management including
treatment, conditioning and interim storage of low- and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW)."[21] Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH (NES) collects, processes, conditions, and stores radioactive waste and does decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities for the Republic of Austria.[22] |
Azerbaijan | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Bangladesh | See WNA:Bangladesh and Nuclear Power in Bangladesh. |
Belarus | See WNA:Belarus and Nuclear Power in Belarus. |
Belgium | See Nuclear Power in Belgium and nuclear sector. |
Bolivia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Botswana | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Brazil | See nuclear sector and Nuclear Power in Brazil. |
Bulgaria | See nuclear sector and Nuclear Power in Bulgaria. |
Burundi | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Cambodia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Canada | WNA: Nuclear Power in Canada, nuclear sector, and
Nuclear Power in Canada. |
Central African Republic | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Chile | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
China | See WNA:Nuclear Power in China, and Nuclear Power in China. |
Congo, Democratic Republic | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Croatia | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Slovenia and Nuclear Power in Croatia. |
Czech Republic | See WNA: Nuclear Power in Czech Republic and Nuclear Power in the Czech Republic. |
Cuba | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Denmark | See WNA:Nuclear Energy in Denmark and Nuclear Power in Denmark. |
Ecuador | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Egypt | See Start of construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant and El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. |
Equatorial Guinea | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Estonia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Ethiopia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Finland | See WPA:Nuclear Power in Finland and Nuclear Power in Finland. |
France | See WPA:Nuclear Power in France and Nuclear Power in France. |
Gabon | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Georgia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Germany | See WPA:Nuclear Power in Germany and Nuclear Power in Germany. |
Ghana | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Guinea | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa |
Guyana | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Hungary | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Hungary and Nuclear Power in Hungary. |
India | See WNA:Nuclear Power in India and Nuclear Power in India. |
Indonesia | See WNPA:Nuclear Power in Indonesia and Nuclear Power in Indonesia. |
Iran | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Iran and Nuclear Power in Iran. |
Israel | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Italy | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Italy and Nuclear Power in Italy. |
Japan | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Japan and Nuclear Power in Japan. |
Jordan | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Jordan and Nuclear Power in Jordan. |
Kazakhstan | See WNA:Uranium and Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan and Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan. |
Kenya | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Korea, North | See Nuclear power in North Korea. |
Korea, South | See WNA:Nuclear Power in South Korea and Nuclear Power in South Korea. |
Kyrgyzstan | See WNA:Uranium in Kyrgyzstan. |
Laos | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Latvia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Lithuania | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Lithuania and Nuclear Power in Lithuania. |
Malawi | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Malaysia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Mali | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Mauritania | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Mexico | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Mexico and Nuclear Power in Mexico. |
Mongolia | See WNA:Uranium in Mongolia. |
Morocco | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Myanmar | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Namibia | See WNA:Uranium in Namibia. |
Netherlands | See WNA:Nuclear Power in the Netherlands and Nuclear Power in the Netherlands. |
New Zealand | See WNA:Nuclear Energy Prospects in New Zealand. |
Niger | See WNA:Uranium in Niger. |
Nigeria | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Norway | See Nuclear power in Norway. |
Oman | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Pakistan | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Pakistan and Nuclear Power in Pakistan. |
Paraguay | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Peru | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Philippines | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Poland | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Poland and Nuclear Power in Poland. |
Romania | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Romania and Nuclear Power in Romania. |
Russia | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Russia and Nuclear Power in Russia. |
Rwanda | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Saudi Arabia | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia and Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia. |
Senegal | See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa. |
Serbia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Singapore | See Singapore is considering the nuclear option for its energy transition... again. |
Slovakia | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Slovakia and Nuclear Power in Slovakia. |
Slovenia | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Slovenia and Nuclear Power in Slovenia. |
South Africa | See WNA:Nuclear Power in South Africa and Nuclear Power in South Africa. |
Spain | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Spain and Nuclear Power in Spain. |
Sri Lanka | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Sudan | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Sweden | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Sweden and Nuclear Power in Sweden. |
Switzerland | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Switzerland and Nuclear Power in Switzerland. |
Syria | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Taiwan | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Taiwan and Nuclear Power in Taiwan. |
Tajikistan | See WNA:Uranium in Tajikistan. |
Tanzania | See WNA:Uranium in Africa. |
Thailand | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Tunisia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Turkey | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Turkey and Nuclear Power in Turkey. |
Uganda | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Ukraine | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Ukraine and Nuclear Power in Ukraine |
United Arab Emirates | See WNA:Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates and Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates. |
United Kingdom | See WNA:Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom and Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom. |
United States | See WNA:Nuclear Power in the USA and Nuclear Power in the USA. |
Uzbekistan | See WNA:Uranium in Uzbekistan. |
Venezuela | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Vietnam | See WNA:Nuclear Power in Vietnam and Nuclear Power in Vietnam. |
Yemen | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Zambia | See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries. |
Zimbabwe | See WNA:Uranium in Africa. |
Close
Organizations that provide study and training in nuclear engineering include the following:
More information Region/Country, Schools and Training ...
Region/Country | Schools and Training |
Africa | The IAEA has 45 Member States in Africa. "The IAEA's technical cooperation (TC) programme is the main mechanism for assisting Member States in the peaceful, safe and secure application of nuclear science and technology."[23] Education in nuclear and radiation safety is a component. |
Asia | Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (ANENT).[24] |
Armenia | IAEA Technical Communication Program.[25] |
Australia | UNSW Nuclear Engineering.[26] |
Austria | EU Science Hub.[27] |
Bangladesh | University of Dhaka.[28] |
Belarus | Belarusian State University.[29] |
Belgium | EU Science Hub.[30] |
Brazil | COPPE UFRJ. |
Brunei | See https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/pub1626web-52229977.pdf |
Bulgaria | EU Science Hub.[31] |
Cambodia | See https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50896212/pride-of-cambodia-students-graduate-with-degrees-in-civil-nuclear-science/. |
Canada | See Canadian-Universities.net. |
China | Harbin Engineering University and Harbin Engineering University.
North China Electric Power University and North China Electric Power University.
Tsinghua University and Tsinghua University. |
Croatia | EU Science Hub.[32] |
Cyprus | EU Science Hub.[33] |
Czech Republic | EU Science Hub.[34] |
Denmark | EU Science Hub.[35] |
Estonia | EU Science Hub.[36] |
Finland | EU Science Hub.[37] |
France | EU Science Hub.[38] |
Germany | EU Science Hub.[39] |
Greece | EU Science Hub.[40] |
Hungary | EU Science Hub.[41] |
IAEA | STAR-NET: Regional Network for Education and Training in Nuclear Technology, https://www.star-net.online/en/?page_id=16, universities:
National Polytechnic University of Armenia
Republic of Armenia
Baku State University, Republic of Azerbaijan
Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Republic of Belarus
Belarusian National Technical University, Republic of Belarus
Belarusian State University, Republic of Belarus
L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University, Republic of Kazakhstan
Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan State University, Republic of Kazakhstan
D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU), Republic of Kazakhstan
AGH University of Science and Technology (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie), Republic of Poland
National Research Nuclear University «MEPhI», Russian Federation
Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University n.a. R.E. Alekseev, Russian Federation
The National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Russian Federation
Odessa National Polytechnic University (OPNU), Ukraine
Samarkand State University, Republic of Uzbekistan
The IAEA also provides guidance for nuclear engineering curricula: https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/pub1626web-52229977.pdf |
India | https://www.iitk.ac.in/net/old/onp.htm and IIT Kanpur. |
Indonesia | See https://tf.ugm.ac.id/2014/04/19/developing-nuclear-education-in-indonesia/ |
Iran | 13 atomic energy primary schools /high schools, more schools being built,[42]Isfahan University of Technology,[43] See https://www.nti.org/education-center/facilities/amir-kabir-university-of-technology-2/ |
Ireland | EU Science Hub.[44] |
Israel | See https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/engn/nuclear/Pages/default.aspx |
Italy | EU Science Hub.[45] |
Japan | https://www.ne.t.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en
https://www.nuclear.sci.waseda.ac.jp/index_en.html |
Jordan | https://www.just.edu.jo/FacultiesandDepartments/FacultyofEngineering/Departments/NuclearEngineering/Pages/Nuclear%20Engineering.aspx |
Latin America | Latin American Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (LANENT) https://www.iaea.org/services/networks/lanent |
Latvia | EU Science Hub.[46] |
Lithuania | EU Science Hub.[47] |
Luxembourg | EU Science Hub.[48] |
Malaysia | Universiti Teknologi Malaysia[49][50] |
Malta | EU Science Hub.[51] |
Mexico | https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/41/133/41133846.pdf |
Netherlands | EU Science Hub.[52] |
Norway | https://www.ntnu.edu/ |
Philippines | https://ansn.iaea.org/Common/topics/OpenTopic.aspx?ID=13280 |
Poland | EU Science Hub.[53] |
Portugal | EU Science Hub.[54] |
Romania | EU Science Hub.[55] |
Russia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Research_Nuclear_University_MEPhI_(Moscow_Engineering_Physics_Institute)
https://tpu.ru/en/about/department_links_and_administration/department/view/?id=7863 |
Saudi Arabia | https://ne.kau.edu.sa/Default-135008-EN |
Serbia | https://www.bg.ac.rs/en/members/institutes/Vinca.php |
Slovakia | EU Science Hub.[56] |
Slovenia | EU Science Hub.[57] |
South Korea | TBA |
Spain | EU Science Hub.[58] |
Sweden | EU Science Hub.[59] |
Switzerland | https://ethz.ch/en/studies/master/degree-programmes/engineering-sciences/nuclear-engineering.html |
Taiwan | https://www.studyintaiwan.org/university/program/2565 |
Thailand | https://www.eng.chula.ac.th/en/department/department-of-nuclear-technology |
Turkey | https://nuke.hacettepe.edu.tr/en/department-69
http://nukbilimler.ankara.edu.tr/en/nuclear-research-and-technologies-department/
http://www.nuce.boun.edu.tr/ |
Ukraine | https://www.uatom.org/en/training-of-nuclear-specialists |
United Arab Emirates | https://www.ku.ac.ae/academics/college-of-engineering/department/department-of-nuclear-engineering#about |
United Kingdom[60] |
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
University of Central Lancashire
University of Cumbria
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
University of Dundee
Imperial College London
Lancaster University
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
The University of Manchester
Nottingham Trent University
Nuclear Technology Education Consortium (NTEC)
The Open University
University of Sheffield
University of Surrey
University of the West of Scotland |
United States[61] |
Air Force Institute of Technology
Abilene Christian University
Clemson University
Colorado School of Mines
Georgia Institute of Technology
Idaho State University
Kansas State University
Louisiana State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology
North Carolina State University
Ohio State University
Oregon State University
Penn State University
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
South Carolina State University
Texas A&M University
United States Military Academy at West Point
University of California, Berkeley
University of Florida
University of Idaho
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Maryland
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Michigan
University of Missouri
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of New Mexico
University of Pittsburgh
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
University of Texas
University of Utah
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech |
Close