Centre for Newsletter Welcome to this edition of the Centre for Nuclear Engineering Newsletter. This is an occasional letter to bring you up NovDec to date on recent developments in the CNE. 2014 Issue | 5 News and Events by Emma J. Warriss, Dimitri Pletser and Edoardo Giorgi

The conference was interactive character, was incredibly jointly organised by helpful to the CNE delegation as this the German Society allowed for interaction with the many of Glass Technology experts present in that session. This (DGG) and the interaction helped the CNE delegation American Ceramic gauge the work and problems of others Society Glass & and served as a reassurance that we are Optical Material all facing the same issues. All in all it Division (GOMD) was a very fruitful week for the whole and covered a broad Imperial College delegation. spectrum of glass topics. These topics Hitachi seminar were discussed in many parallel panel Hitachi and Horizon launched their ABWR seminar series at Imperial Imperial Professor headed sessions and included, among other, optical properties and laser applications, College on 1-2nd July. The seminar the UK delegation to the IAEA fundamentals of the glassy state, was attended by over 80 people from General Conference in Vienna bioglass and its medical applications, across the nuclear industry and many universities. The seminar series consists Prof Robin Grimes (above) led the modelling of glass systems, industrial of six meetings to be held at Imperial, UK delegation to the IAEA General glass making applications and vitreous Manchester and Birmingham discussing Conference in Vienna, this is the first nuclear waste properties, dissolution the ABWR’s to be built at Wylfa and time that an academic has led the and vitrification technology. The Oldbury. delegation. The delegation from the UK conference was attended by many of included experts from DECC, ONR and the most influential glass 15 UK companies from the UK Nuclear scientists from around Industry. the world, including many specialists in the field of DGG–GOMD 2014 conference nuclear waste vitrification. report This made for an inspiring and interdisciplinary From the 25th to the 30th of May a environment to learn delegation from Imperial College visited about the current state of the DGG–ACerS GOMD 2014 conference the art in all the different in Aachen, Germany. This delegation aspects of glass and its consisted of Charlie Hutchison, Nor applications. Especially Ezzaty Ahmad and Dimitri Pletser from the nuclear waste the CNE and Amy Nommeots-Nomm workshop on Friday, which from Prof. Julian Jones’ Bioglass group. had a more open and Centre for Nuclear Engineering 2 Issue | 5 . Newsletter CNE Finalist in the YGN place), to the moving personal stories of 5th EDF Annual Lecture Speakers Competition people that still live in the quarantined The 5th EDF Annual Lecture entitled area surrounding the Chernobyl power “HR Vision 2020” was given by Marianne On the 7th Oct the Nuclear Institute plant (Kate Martin). Another presenter hosted the National Finals of the Laigneau, EDF Group Senior Executive (Beth Ripper, 2nd place) used clever Vice President, HR, on 7th October Young Generation Network Speaker interactive methods to explain the competition. Patrick Burr a PhD student 2014. The event was well attended complex challenge of storing spent with approx. 200 people from across from the CNE was a finalist in this event nuclear fuel. having previously won the central Imperial, Industry and the general England branch heat. “The quality of the presentations was public. higher than ever before”, says Tim Six candidates, each a winner of their Chittenden, NI president and leader regional heats, gathered in Birchwood of this year’s judging panel. The event (Warrington) from all over the country not only provides an opportunity to to give their presentations in front of a practice public speaking skills, and win mixed audience comprising of nuclear up to £300, but is also a fantastic social experts and lay people alike. event in which graduates can network Presentation topics varied from the with leaders and peers from the nuclear futuristic design of an orbiting solar industry. power plant (Douglas Hard, 3rd place), Well-deserved congratulations go out to an engaging and controversial to Patrick for reaching the finals of this analysis of the history of the British hotly contested competition. nuclear industry (Ross Murison, 1st Our Nucelar Heritage by Emma J. Warriss and Edoardo Giorgi From NNL a flash into Imperial’s Nuclear Past was dug up and kindly passed onto us. During a Joint National Programme between the National Lab, UKAEA and Imperial College in 1965 new ways to structure reactor pressure vessels were investigated. As I. Davidson recounts: “The model spherical concrete pressure vessel shown was designed by the Authority and built at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London by Simon Carves Ltd” a technology led engineering consultancy founded in Manchester. The photo was taken during testing under the direction of Professor A.L.L Baker in the College’s Concrete Durability Lab, one of the two state-of-the-art Structural Engineering Laboratories focused on investigating all aspects of concrete degradation. Image and quote taken from “The Reactor”, Volume 4, No. 3 Spring 1965. Centre for Nuclear Engineering Newsletter Issue | 5 3 New Faces at Imperial by Emma J. Warriss and Edoado Giorgi New starter - Prof Laurence Williams FREng Prof Williams has joined us from UCLan where he was the Director of UCLan Nuclear and Professor of Nuclear Safety and Regulation. His appointment at Imperial was made possible by funding from Lloyds Register. Prof Williams is one of the world’s leading experts in nuclear safety regulation. He was HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations and the Chief Engineer and Director for Nuclear Safety, Security and Environment at the NDA. He is currently the Chair of the CoRWM, which advises the Government and the Devolved Administrations on the UK Government’s Waste Management Programme.

CDT Recruitment The EPSRC ICO Nuclear Energy CDT From left to right: Johannes Brokx, Richard Pearson, Alex Kenich, Charles Alan, has gotten off to a flying start with nine Bhaswati Guha, William White, Sophie Morrison, Mark Mawdsley, Andrew Wilson new starters in October 2014 as our the MSc in Nuclear Engineering and Cambridge or Open University first cohort. The cohort will spend their on successful completion will head off depending on their projects. first year at Imperial College studying to complete their PhD’s at Imperial, My Summer Placement Experience at NNL by Yehia Amar When I applied for a summer placement Management & Decommissioning team active environment of the Central Lab at The National Nuclear Laboratory in with my team manager Sean Clarke. in . December 2013, I specified that of all The lengthy security vetting process for I worked on two projects during my of their locations in England, I wanted clearance and access to the Sellafield placement; my first project was to to work in the Central Laboratory in site meant that I wasn’t able to start investigate various aspects of an Sellafield because I had read about the until August but fortunately I was able innovative process called GeoMelt, a in- crucial work they do in managing the to work at the NNL Workington site container-vitrification technology that UKs legacy nuclear waste materials. for 2 weeks until my Sellafield pass vitrifies low-level nuclear waste into a After a CV screening and an hour- came through. NNL has a rig hall in stable glass-crystalline product. This long interview, I received news that Workington, which is the site for all technology is a joint venture between my application was successful and non-nuclear testing of rig facilities US-based environmental treatment that I would be placed in the Waste before they are taken to the nuclear- company Kurion and NNL, and will soon Centre for Nuclear Engineering 4 Issue | 5 . Newsletter be used for the first time at the Central of magnitudes of these volumetric flow in. Lab, which is a big milestone for NNL. rates which showed that water had I would certainly recommend a summer It has been proven to be effective in ingressed via threads in the fuel cans placement at NNL to penultimate the USA and Japan and will now, for very early on in their storage period year student on the Imperial College the first time, be brought to the UK (likely in the late 1960s). nuclear engineering degree interested to treat low-level-waste and orphan On the last day of my placement, in getting a real life experience of some wastes. Before it can be launched I presented my findings to Sean key issues surrounding the nuclear however, extensive tests and studies Clarke, my manager; NNL’s Business industry. This will provide you with a must be conducted. I learned that the Leader in Waste Management and strong experience that will help in the launch of any new technology in the Decommissioning, Barney Whyte; Dr. final year nuclear modules as well as give nuclear industry is a very challenging Susan Morgan and project managers you an idea of how an R&D environment process (and at times demoralising John McGibbon and Steve McCullough. suits your career aspirations. My given the extremely extensive scrutiny It was extremely rewarding as their experience has given me a valuable of a technology’s feasibility), with many feedback to me was very positive and insight into the UK nuclear industry and obstacles to overcome and regulatory indicated how serious and important the confidence to pursue postgraduate frameworks to deal with. For example, an endeavour it is to understand the education in nuclear energy. If anyone before being able to move the GeoMelt behaviour of spent fuel. My project would like advice on applying to NNL, process to the Central Lab in Sellafield, served as a valuable first step in making or accommodation in Cumbria, do not numerous hazard and operability these assessments. hesitate to contact me. studies had to be carried out. This is where my contribution to the team One of the highlights of my placement Yehia Amar, [email protected] was being able to sit in on an important came in, I worked on a thorough process Department of Chemical Engineering, business meeting between Kurion, description for the HAZOP paper which Imperial College London. involved methodically ascertaining how NNL and TEPCO (Japanese company in the process will be run in practice and charge of Fukushima clean-up) where I how to deal with potential secondary learned about subtle differences in the waste streams. The result of my work challenges the US, UK and Japanese will be used to complete a HAZOP 2, nuclear industries face. Furthermore, which will give regulators confidence before my placement I sometimes had that GeoMelt can be run safely. difficulty explaining to friends that don’t have an engineering background Halfway through my placement, my how the industry will deal with the team manager and I agreed that it waste management issues associated would be valuable for me to work on a with nuclear energy in the event of project pertaining to nuclear materials, new build (this remains a topic that as this is relevant to my final year at the nuclear industry has done a poor Imperial College, because one of my job communicating to the public). Now modules is Nuclear Materials (with Prof. however I am more familiar with the Grimes). I had the opportunity to tour various technologies to manage nuclear the B13 facility, which is the site for fuel waste residues and reprocessing and processing and inspection and where I can engage in more meaningful PIE (post irradiation examination) discussions with friends and colleagues. takes place. One of the challenges in the storage pond facility is that fuel West Cumbria, being a very remote has been stored in cans for many part of the country, is very different decades and the fuel is now in very poor to London! It is very difficult for travel condition and surrounded by sludge. within the area without a car and a Many fuel canisters are now flooded drivers’ license, but I was lucky to be with water from the pond. Sellafield has able to car share with other students. invested £750,000 to try to understand Outside of the office, Cumbria offered how long it took for these cans to flood me outdoor opportunities that I was in order to understand how to deal not used to as a student in London; with fuel storage in the future. In my I had the chance to see the beautiful project, I conducted research to gain sites in the Lake District including a preliminary understanding of the lakes Windermere and Derwentwater. rates of water ingress into these fuel Throughout my placement the weather canisters. I developed a fluid mechanics was usually perfect for running, golfing model which gave approximate orders and kayaking, activities I was involved Centre for Nuclear Engineering Newsletter Issue | 5 5 Tony Goddard, Colin Beasant and Colin Bayliss by Emma J. Warriss, Simon Walkers and Edoardo Giorgi The CNE was sad to hear the news that contribution across the whole spectrum on the development of compact very Tony Goddard passed away in June, of nuclear activity in the college, based high speed turbo generators, resulting followed by Colin Beasant in July and on his deep understanding of both the in the founding of a successful publicly Colin Bayliss in September this year. science, and the political and personal quoted company in this area. aspects of research. Tony Goddard was widely respected Colin Bayliss was a very popular at Imperial College for his excellent Colin Beasant came to Imperial College, lecturer with our UG and Masters work on computational modelling, again joining the group lead by Peter students, enthusing them on topics with an emphasis on environmental Grant, after a period working with the including waste management safety and . Tony had a UKAEA. He worked on nuclear research and decommissioning. He was long association with Imperial College projects in the Mechanical Engineering well respected with in the nuclear starting with his PG Diploma in Nuclear Department, but later broadened the community at Imperial College and held Power, and later, after a period with the scope of his activities into areas such internationally recognised roles in the UKAEA, joining the nuclear research as robotics, automation and machines. UKAEA. team within the Mechanical Engineering He was enormously industrious and Tony Godard, Colin Beasant and Colin Department, with Peter Grant. He later active, and in particular excelled at Bayliss were held in high regard, and moved departments, establishing transferring the technologies he was were viewed with great affection, by the Applied Computation and instrumental in developing in the their many colleagues at the college, Modelling Group in Earth Sciences and college out into commercial use. This and they will all be sadly missed. Engineering. He made a very valuable perhaps reached its peak with his work Centre for Nuclear Engineering 6 Issue | 5 . Newsletter Pubblications

Nuclear Applications for Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics The thermodynamics of hydride precipitation: The and MAX Phases importance of entropy, enthalpy and disorder WE Lee, A Maitre, O Rapaud, E Giorgi, R Harrison S. C. Lumley, R. W. Grimes, S. T. Murphy, P. A. Burr, A. Materials for Extreme Environment Applications , WG Chroneos, P. R. Chard-Tucke, M. R. Wenman Fahrenholtz, EJ Wuchina, WE Lee and Y Zhou (Eds.) (Wiley Acta Materialia, 79, 351–362 (2014). 2014). Peroxide defect formation in zirconate perovskites The UK’s Radioactive Waste and Waste Management S. C. Middleburgh, I. Karatchevtseva, B. J. Kennedy, P. A. Programme Burr, Z. Zhang, E. Reynolds, R. W. Grimes, G. R. Lumpkin MI Ojovan, GA Thomas, WE Lee Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 00, 1–6 (2014). Advances in Materials Science for Environmental and Energy Processing and microstructural characterisation of a UO - Technology III: Edited by T Ohji et al., Ceramic Transactions 2 based ceramic for disposal studies on spent AGR fuel 250, 157-175 (2014). Z. Hiezl, D.I. Hambley, C. Padovani, W.E. Lee An Introduction to Nuclear Waste Immobilisation (2nd Journal of Nuclear Materials, 456, 74-84 (2014). Edition) Thermophysical characterisation of ZrC N ceramics MI Ojovan, O Ridd, DD Jayaseelan, WE Lee x y fabricated via carbothermic reduction nitridation Elsevier, 1-362 (2014). R. Harrison, O. Ridd, D.D. Jayaseelan, W.E. Lee

Thermophysical and anion diffusion properties of (UxTh1-x) Journal of Nuclear Materials, 454, (1-3), 46-53 (2014). O 2 Fabrication of ZrC N from ZrO via two step carbothermic M. W. D. Cooper, S. T. Murphy, P. C. M. Fossati, M. J. D. x y 2 reduction-nitridation Rushton, R. W. Grimes R. Harrison, O. Rapaud, N. Pradeilles, A. Maitre, W.E. Lee Proceedings of the Royal Society A 470, 20140427 (2014). Journal of the European Ceramic Society, In Press (2014). Vacancy mediated cation migration in uranium dioxide: Durability Studies of Simulated UK High Level Waste Glass The influence of cluster configuration NE Ahmad, JR Jones, WE Lee M. W. D. Cooper, S. C. Middleburgh, R. W. Grimes MRS Symp. Proc. 1665 Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Solid State Ionics 266, 68-72 (2014). Management XXXVII Barcelona, Spain, 291-296 (2014). Swelling due to the partition of soluble fission products Preparation and Characterisation of UO2-based AGR between the grey phase and uranium dioxide SIMFuel M. W. D. Cooper, S. C. Middleburgh, R. W. Grimes Z Hiezl, D Hambley and WE Lee Progress in Nuclear Energy 72, 33-37 (2014). MRS Symp. Proc. 1665 Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Point defects and non-stoichiometry in thoria Management XXXVII Barcelona, Spain, 245-251 (2014). S. T. Murphy, M. W. D. Cooper, R. W. Grimes Solid State Ionics 267, 80-87 (2014).

Thermal conductivity and energetic recoils in UO2­­ using a many-body potential model M. J. Qin, M. W. D. Cooper, E. Y. Kuo, M. J. D. Rushton, R. W. Grimes, G. R. Lumpkin, S. C. Middleburgh Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 26, 495401 (2014).

Contact Details Prof. Bill Lee 020 7594 6733 Dr Ben Britton 020 7594 2634 Director for CNE [email protected] Nuclear Teaching Champion [email protected]

Prof. Moji Moatamedi 020 7594 5534 Miss Emma J Warriss 020 7594 9916 Technical Manager - CNE [email protected] PA & Project Manager - CNE [email protected]