Energy Nuclear power provides a safe, reliable, greenhouse gas emission free and extensible energy source today and for generations to come. Learn More. Safety and Security Understanding the impact nuclear technology and materials have on society and environment is a core aspect of nuclear engineering.
The methods people write the software that models reactors. This software is very mathematically intense, as modeling every neutron and every bit of fluid flow in a huge system is an extremely daunting task. Running codes on supercomputers is the norm for the nuclear industry, and the methods people are the ones making it happen. Engineers working in regulation have the responsibility of protecting the public. They get copies of all the proposed designs of reactors and new fuel loadings and run their own independent calculations of their safety.
They also spend a lot of time in operating reactors, monitoring the operations and inspecting various components. All operations in reactors must be approved by the regulation people.
Designing and constructing these complicated plants takes an enormous effort. They all have multiple trains of redundant safety systems and must be able to be built at a reasonable price.
Additionally, some of the parts of reactors are huge and require some of the largest forging facilities in the world. Radiation damages materials and the task at hand is to maximize the lifetime and reliability of both fuel and reactor components.
Great question! Nuclear engineers are hired by utility companies who operate reactors , reactor vendors who build and service reactors , the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which monitors the reactors , consulting firms who perform specialized tasks for the previously mentioned entities , universities who train new engineers , the Navy which designs, builds, and operates nuclear powered submarines and other ships , the national labs - Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Idaho, Argonne, Berkeley, Pacific Northwest, Sandia who design next-generation plants, develop space batteries, deal with nuclear weapons, perform basic research… , oil companies to hunt for oil with their powerful detectors , and various other companies with some interest in the nuclear world.
Toggle navigation. Concepts Learn about nuclear energy What is Nuclear Energy? What is Radioactivity? According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology course on nuclear reactor safety , nuclear engineers are responsible for accident prevention through proper design and training; protection through monitoring and control systems, active shutdown and cooling systems; and mitigation to limit consequences through engineered safety systems.
Nuclear engineers are also responsible for ensuring the safe handling of radioactive materials in accordance with a large number of federal regulations. This responsibility includes monitoring exposure to workers in nuclear facilities and to patients and staff in health care facilities. Nuclear engineering requires several critical skills, including an in-depth understanding of nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry, mathematics and materials. More and more, nuclear engineers rely on computer-aided design CAD systems to design systems and equipment.
They must also be familiar with computerized control equipment for reactors and accelerators, as well as computer simulations for modeling a variety of systems and equipment. A comprehensive list of necessary skills and abilities for nuclear engineers can be found at MyMajors.
Most nuclear engineer jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering. Promotion to management often requires master's degree, and engineers need ongoing education and training to keep up with advances in technology, testing and monitoring of equipment, computer hardware and software, and government regulations.
According to Salary. Administration Administrative Contacts. Graduate Prospective Students Ph. Support Research Sponsorship Capstone Sponsorship. Quick Links Contact Us. Connect Events Publications News. What do nuclear engineers do?
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