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NWNC Northwest Nuclear Consortium http://www.nwnc.us.com

Offering the only curriculum for Public High School students in the US with a working fusion reactor.

June 2013 Volume 1, Issue 7

NWNC CR-39 Team Wins the Gold overall at WSSEF Then takes second place at ISSEF

Ray Maung, Jake Hecla and Rian Chandra won the Gold overall at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair in Bremerton, and received their awards from the cities Mayor, Patty Lent. Their work in understanding the production NWNC Overview: process of the Farnsworth has opened new possibilities for IEC fusion machines built on the The NWNC is a privately Farnsworth model, to be understood as a beam on held club that meets to target technology rather than an collider. promote careers in fusion research, physics and Using over 200 CR-39 plastic dosimetry chips they engineering as well as STEM successfully mapped the neutron distribution of the within the Public School IEC-9000 fusion reactor operated by the Northwest System. The NWNC owns Nuclear Consortium. The data was then and operates a nuclear corroborated by the use of BTI Bubble Detectors inserted during consecutive runs, with appropriate statistical research laboratory in Federal controls, which showed the same anomalous anisotropic distribution of flux instead of the isotropic distribution Way Washington. The described in conventional Farnsworth theory. The entry also won them 2nd place grand prize at ISSEF. NWNC wishes to thank They also won first place in Physics at the South Sound Regional Science Fair, Office of Naval Research Award, Microsoft , The Boeing Pierce College Reach for the Stars Award, Bonneville Power Administration Achievement in Energy Award, Effects Lab, Ohio Wesleyan University Science Scholarship $10,000 renewable, Pacific Science Center Project of Merit FUSOR.NET, The American Award, Seattle Pacific University Scholarships and Wolfram Mathematica Award. Jake has now been accepted Nuclear Society EWS, The US to MIT university and Rian and Ray will be attending the University of Washington Physics program this fall. NAVY and the all volunteer staff of the NWNC without Firefly Research team starts signal injection which all of this would not have been possible. The Firefly Plasma Research Team began using a form of cathode modulation to introduce RF signals into the plasma of a neutron producing fusor in an attempt to disrupt the neutron production in a linear mode, and thus create an additional form of In this issue: attenuation that could be used to more accurately establish the quantity of radiation a particular sample might receive. Pictured at left is team lead, Lauren Crom, who is operating the oscillator To ISSEF and back 1 and neutron detectors. In addition, Jeesoo Chung, Juila Kim, Paul RF & Plasma 1 Kalebu and Maddy Rogers rotated positions in signal injection, Remote Control 2 data collection, safety monitoring and time keeper. Jayce Glen from the NWNC core team was Reactor Operator. Pool side at WSU 2 Accelerators 3 After several weeks of data collection, an unexpected result appeared as a mathematical anomaly, and the group performed a ANS-EWS 3 statistical regression and normalization of data to reveal that at Helicity at the U of W 4 higher frequencies there had been an increase in neutron BOEING (REL) 4 production beyond 2 standard deviations. This outcome was not as expected, and further predicts that there may be a resonance associated with the size of the chamber, electrode placement and dimensions of the plasma involved. The team has agreed to Page 1 continue their study into the summer and make a determination next fall if they will pursue this project in the 2014 Imagine Tomorrow Science Fair held in Pullman at the WSU campus, or search for another topic. NWNC Northwest Nuclear Consortium http://www.nwnc.us.com

Offering the only nuclear engineering curriculum for Public High School students in the US with a working fusion reactor.

June 2013 Volume 1, Issue 7

Operating Remote Control from WSU

The NWNC Firefly team participated in the Imagine Tomorrow Science Fair at WSU this year with an interesting twist. The IEC-9000 has been undergoing a modification to allow the reactor to be operated NWNC Overview: by remote control over the internet. In the The NWNC is a privately picture at right, Mathematics Teacher and held club that meets to mentor, Jerry Glaser from Todd Beamer High promote careers in fusion School, analyzes data in front of a 5 camera live research, physics and video feed coming from Federal Way. The engineering as well as STEM reactors major electrical power systems have within the Public School been integrated into a GUI created in C# by System. The NWNC owns Team Lead Chase Price and Sophomore Savanah and operates a nuclear James of the “Geek Team”. They are now adding temperature telemetry and mechanical stepping motor research laboratory in Federal control for the valves using a Labjack™ USB controller with assistance provided by Dave Housley who Way Washington. The is machining the mechanical parts and creating the stepper motor control circuitry. NWNC wishes to thank The goal of this system will be to allow presentations and training at local area high schools, without moving the Microsoft , The Boeing reactor out of the lab. There are local technicians at the reactor who are monitoring the control process, and Radiation Effects Lab, are prepared to intervene should it become necessary, or if the connection should fail. It is anticipated that full FUSOR.NET, The American scale tests of this system could begin sometime before the end of 2013. Nuclear Society EWS, The US NAVY and the all volunteer staff of the NWNC without Firefly Plasma Research team visits WSU reactor which all of this would not have been possible. While at WSU, the Firefly team got a special treat from Don Wall, who directs the activities of the universities . The team was escorted to the control room where they were allowed to ask questions of future reactor In this issue: operators in training, and were then led out on to the top of the reactor where they could watch the Cherenkov radiation of a million watts of To ISSEF and back 1 coming RF & Plasma 1 up through the reactor Remote Control 2 pools cooling water just below them. Pool side at WSU 2 The glow lit up the ceiling of the reactor room, and you could actually Accelerators 3 see the heat waves moving the water as it flowed away from the reactor core. The operators instructor, Mathew King, explained the rigors of ANS-EWS 3 the training program, and the subsequent testing that a reactor operator Helicity at the U of W 4 undergoes from the NRC. The reactor at WSU is a TRIGA reactor BOEING (REL) 4 with a pneumatically operated control rod that causes a momentary jump in output power than can exceed a billion watts of neutron energy. This momentary pulse in due to a negative energy coefficient in the zirconium hydride (UZrH) fuel rods which safely shuts the Page 2 reaction off in a few milliseconds. This makes it an ideal technology for a training reactor as a meltdown is almost impossible. NWNC Northwest Nuclear Consortium http://www.nwnc.us.com

Offering the only nuclear engineering curriculum for Public High School students in the US with a working fusion reactor.

June 2013 Volume 1, Issue 7

NWNC Welcomes Robert Tubbs

The NWNC leadership team is pleased to welcome Mr. Robert Tubbs as department head of the newly proclaimed NWNC accelerator group. Robert has been involved in high energy physics for a number of years, and is currently attending Bellevue Community College. His NWNC Overview: work on his own fusor is legendary in the FUSOR.NET organization, and he has designed and built numerous high The NWNC is a privately apparatus. His latest creation is still a work in progress and is a held club that meets to miniature linear accelerator with a true switching (50 KHZ) 250 promote careers in fusion KVDC power supply. The Cockcroft Walton is built right on to research, physics and the beam line, and the power supply fits neatly in a table top engineering as well as STEM electrical control box. Robert, who has substantial expertise in within the Public School welding, has custom made many of the parts by hand, and hopes System. The NWNC owns the finished prototype may one day serve as the basis for a low and operates a nuclear budget addition to nuclear engineering programs at smaller research laboratory in Federal universities across the country. Way Washington. The NWNC wishes to thank He will be crafting curriculum for the NWNC to introduce the Microsoft , The Boeing topic of accelerators and beam on target technology used by many Radiation Effects Lab, hospitals and research companies in material analysis and oncology. Mr. David Housley, who is a linear FUSOR.NET, The American accelerator technician for Swedish Hospital will serve as mentor to the group. Nuclear Society EWS, The US NAVY and the all volunteer ANS—EWS hears NWNC Presentation staff of the NWNC without which all of this would not In April, the NWNC presented their program in Richland to the have been possible. American Nuclear Society, Eastern Washington Section, and then again the next day to the Richland Rotary. Remarks at the event were laudatory, and Mr. Greninger pointed out the conspicuous oddity that a High School Nuclear Engineering program should emerge in Puget In this issue: Sound first. The ANS-EWS has taken up the challenge, and has initiated a similar effort in Richland. A team from Richland came to the NWNC lab in June to observe the meeting and watch the NWNC To ISSEF and back 1 reactor operators bring up their Farnsworth Fusor. After their visit, it RF & Plasma 1 became obvious that the time was right to re-activate the ANS Puget Remote Control 2 Sound Chapter. This invitation has been well received by numerous nuclear related interests in the Puget Pool side at WSU 2 Sound area, and a conference call in July has been scheduled. The NWNC hope that the ANS-Puget Sound chapter will provide a voice to state government regarding opportunities to bring advanced nuclear curriculum Accelerators 3 into the main stream at public high schools. In addition, the ANS ANS-EWS 3 -EWS generously offered to underwrite the cost of attending a Helicity at the U of W 4 showing of the new movie, “Pandora’s Promise”. This new feature length film chronicles the evolution of current nuclear BOEING (REL) 4 technologies, and sets forth reasonable and judicious argument for revisiting the use of nuclear power in the US, and why new 4th generation passive reactor technologies are within reach. Page 3 The key here will be reinventing the NRC licensing process and eliminating bureaucratic waste and delay while replacing it with genuine safety, value and focus. NWNC Northwest Nuclear Consortium http://www.nwnc.us.com

Offering the only nuclear engineering curriculum for Public High School students in the US with a working fusion reactor.

June 2013 Volume 1, Issue 7

NWNC tours Helicity Injected Torus at the U of W

The NWNC enjoyed an afternoon at the University of Washington recently where they received a ring-side presentation of the Helicity Injected Torus. Graduate Research Assistant Derek Sutherland noted that; “I was really impressed with the level of knowledge for these NWNC Overview: students being only in high school; they really seemed like they were a few years into college already. “ The NWNC is a privately are unique for several reasons. First, a held club that meets to promote careers in fusion is simply connected, meaning no coils link research, physics and the plasma through the central axis. A simply engineering as well as STEM connected geometry provides a number of design within the Public School and economical advantages towards the System. The NWNC owns development of a fusion reactor. Another unique and operates a nuclear feature of the spheromak is that toroidal flux that research laboratory in Federal exists at the center, but not at the walls of the spheromak. The toroidal flux at the center of the Way Washington. The spheromak, generated from the relaxation of the lines, is important for NWNC wishes to thank equilibrium. Overall, the toroidal and poloidal field magnitudes are comparable for a Microsoft , The Boeing Radiation Effects Lab, spheromak. Spheromak magnetic fields are primarily generated by internal plasma currents; FUSOR.NET, The American therefore equilibrium is achieved without the use of external coils. Nuclear Society EWS, The US NAVY and the all volunteer NWNC tours BOEING Radiation Effects Lab staff of the NWNC without which all of this would not In March, the NWNC had a have been possible. very special day at the Boeing Radiation Effects Lab in Seattle. This singularly outstanding tour opened a In this issue: much larger and wider world of Physics to the students than they ever imagined. The To ISSEF and back 1 devices were gargantuan in RF & Plasma 1 comparison to things we had Remote Control 2 been introduced to in Pool side at WSU 2 textbooks, and the energies these machines are capable of only made the work they do more exciting. The NWNC students also extended Accelerators 3 an invitation for BREL to tour their humble facilities in Federal Way and to their surprise and joy, BREL ANS-EWS 3 accepted! Wonderful nights were had by all when, on two separate occasions, members of the BREL team Helicity at the U of W 4 came to see our reactor operate, and help the students with tips, advice and direction. This experience was a primary catalyst in nudging all of our seniors into nuclear or high energy physics career fields going forward. BOEING (REL) 4 The NWNC owes a special debt of gratitude to Gary Foss, Will Wes, Ben Koltenbah, Howard Wallace, Mark Clemen-Jr, Issac Bean, and the many others at BREL who have reached out to the NWNC to share their wisdom and knowledge of physics. The NWNC looks forward to having several of the BREL engineers back as Page 4 speakers and project mentors in 2014 to share their experiences in research and help our students to better prepare themselves for the challenges ahead.