Nuclear engineering

Nuclear engineering is the engineering discipline concerned with designing and applying systems that utilize the energy released by nuclear processes.
The most prominent application of nuclear engineering is the generation of electricity. Worldwide, some 439 nuclear reactors in 31 countries generate 10 percent of the world's energy through nuclear fission. In the future, it is expected that nuclear fusion will add another nuclear means of generating energy. Both reactions make use of the nuclear binding energy released when atomic nucleons are either separated or brought together. 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, without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

History

Nuclear engineering was born in 1938, with the discovery of nuclear fission. 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 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 reactor to generate electricity was Experimental Breeder Reactor I, which did so near Arco, Idaho, in 1951. 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 is the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, which produced electricity in 1957.
For a chronology, from the discovery of uranium to the current era, see or History of Nuclear Power. Also see,, and .
See List of Commercial Nuclear Reactors for a comprehensive listing of nuclear power reactors and for worldwide and country-level statistics on nuclear power generation.

Sub-disciplines

Nuclear engineers work in such areas as the following:

Nuclear reactor design, which has evolved from the Generation I, proof-of concept, reactors of the 1950s and 1960s, 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 an electric 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
Nuclear security
Nuclear engineering even has a role in criminal investigation, and agriculture.

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.

Employment

In the United States, nuclear engineers are employed as follows:

Electric power generation 25%
Federal government 18%
Scientific research and development 15%
Engineering services 5%
Manufacturing 10%
Other areas 27%

Job prospects for nuclear engineers worldwide are not available, but the IAEA estimates that nuclear energy capacity will grow by 40% to 2.5 times current capacity by 2050. Countries with existing nuclear energy capacity and those actively exploring nuclear energy are listed in the following.

Country	Nuclear capabilities
Algeria	See .
Argentina	See
Armenia	See .
Australia	See nuclear sector and .
Austria	"Austria operates one central radioactive waste management and interim storage facility – Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH for pre-disposal management including treatment, conditioning and interim storage of low- and intermediate level radioactive waste." Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH collects, processes, conditions, and stores radioactive waste and does decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities for the Republic of Austria.
Azerbaijan	See .
Bangladesh	See and Nuclear Power in Bangladesh.
Belarus	See and Nuclear Power in Belarus.
Belgium	See Nuclear Power in Belgium and nuclear sector.
Bolivia	See
Botswana	See and Uranium in Africa.
Brazil	See nuclear sector and Nuclear Power in Brazil.
Bulgaria	See nuclear sector and Nuclear Power in Bulgaria.
Burundi	See
Cambodia	See
Canada	, nuclear sector, and Nuclear Power in Canada.
Central African Republic	See and Uranium in Africa.
Chile	See
China	See, and Nuclear Power in China.
Congo, Democratic Republic	See and Uranium in Africa.
Croatia	See and Nuclear Power in Croatia.
Czech Republic	See and Nuclear Power in the Czech Republic.
Cuba	See
Denmark	See and Nuclear Power in Denmark.
Ecuador	See
Egypt	See and El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.
Equatorial Guinea	See and Uranium in Africa.
Estonia	See
Ethiopia	See
Finland	See and Nuclear Power in Finland.
France	See and Nuclear Power in France.
Gabon	See and Uranium in Africa.
Georgia	See
Germany	See and Nuclear Power in Germany.
Ghana	See
Greece	See
Guinea	See and Uranium in Africa
Guyana	See
Hungary	See and Nuclear Power in Hungary.
India	See and Nuclear Power in India.
Indonesia	See and Nuclear Power in Indonesia.
Iran	See and Nuclear Power in Iran.
Israel	See
Italy	See and Nuclear Power in Italy.
Japan	See and Nuclear Power in Japan.
Jordan	See and Nuclear Power in Jordan.
Kazakhstan	See and Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan.
Kenya	See
Korea, North	See Nuclear power in North Korea.
Korea, South	See and Nuclear Power in South Korea.
Kyrgyzstan	See .
Laos	See
Latvia	See
Lithuania	See and Nuclear Power in Lithuania.
Malawi	See and Uranium in Africa.
Malaysia	See
Mali	See
Mauritania	See
Mexico	See and Nuclear Power in Mexico.
Mongolia	See .
Morocco	See and Uranium in Africa.
Myanmar	See
Namibia	See .
Netherlands	See and Nuclear Power in the Netherlands.
New Zealand	See .
Niger	See .
Nigeria	See
Norway	See Nuclear power in Norway.
Oman	See
Pakistan	See and Nuclear Power in Pakistan.
Paraguay	See
Peru	See
Philippines	See
Poland	See and Nuclear Power in Poland.
Romania	See and Nuclear Power in Romania.
Russia	See and Nuclear Power in Russia.
Rwanda	See
Saudi Arabia	See and Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia.
Senegal	See and Uranium in Africa.
Serbia	See
Singapore
Slovakia	See and Nuclear Power in Slovakia.
Slovenia	See and Nuclear Power in Slovenia.
South Africa	See and Nuclear Power in South Africa.
Spain	See and Nuclear Power in Spain.
Sri Lanka	See
Sudan	See
Sweden	See and Nuclear Power in Sweden.
Switzerland	See and Nuclear Power in Switzerland.
Syria	See
Taiwan	See and Nuclear Power in Taiwan.
Tajikistan	See .
Tanzania	See .
Thailand	See
Tunisia	See
Turkey	See and Nuclear Power in Turkey.
Uganda	See
Ukraine	See and Nuclear Power in Ukraine
United Arab Emirates	See and Nuclear power in [the United Arab Emirates\|Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates].
United Kingdom	See and Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom.
United States	See and Nuclear Power in the USA.
Uzbekistan	See .
Venezuela	See
Vietnam	See and Nuclear Power in Vietnam.
Yemen	See
Zambia	See
Zimbabwe	See .

Education

Organizations that provide study and training in nuclear engineering include the following:

Region/Country	Schools and Training
Africa	The IAEA has 45 Member States in Africa. "The IAEA's technical cooperation programme is the main mechanism for assisting Member States in the peaceful, safe and secure application of nuclear science and technology." Education in nuclear and radiation safety is a component.
Argentina
Armenia	IAEA Technical Communication Program.
Asia	Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology.
Australia	UNSW Nuclear Engineering.
Austria	EU Science Hub.
Bangladesh	University of Dhaka.
Belarus	Belarusian State University.
Belgium	EU Science Hub.
Brazil	.
Brunei	See https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/pub1626web-52229977.pdf
Bulgaria	EU Science Hub.
Cambodia	See https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50896212/pride-of-cambodia-students-graduate-with-degrees-in-civil-nuclear-science/.
Canada	See .
Chile
China	and Harbin Engineering University. and North China Electric Power University. and Tsinghua University.
Croatia	EU Science Hub.
Cyprus	EU Science Hub.
Czech Republic	EU Science Hub.
Denmark	EU Science Hub.
Estonia	EU Science Hub.
Finland	EU Science Hub.
France	EU Science Hub.
Germany	EU Science Hub.
Greece	EU Science Hub.
Hungary	EU Science Hub.
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, Republic of Kazakhstan AGH University of Science and Technology, 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, 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,Isfahan University of Technology, See https://www.nti.org/education-center/facilities/amir-kabir-university-of-technology-2/
Ireland	EU Science Hub.
Israel	See https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/engn/nuclear/Pages/default.aspx
Italy	EU Science Hub.
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 https://www.iaea.org/services/networks/lanent
Latvia	EU Science Hub.
Lithuania	EU Science Hub.
Luxembourg	EU Science Hub.
Malaysia	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Malta	EU Science Hub.
Mexico	https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/41/133/41133846.pdf
Netherlands	EU Science Hub.
New Zealand	https://www.auckland.ac.nz/
Norway	https://www.ntnu.edu/
Pakistan	National University of Pakistan
Philippines	https://ansn.iaea.org/Common/topics/OpenTopic.aspx?ID=13280
Poland	EU Science Hub.
Portugal	EU Science Hub.
Romania	EU Science Hub.
Russia	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Research_Nuclear_University_MEPhI_ 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.
Slovenia	EU Science Hub.
South Korea	TBA
Spain	EU Science Hub.
Sweden	EU Science Hub.
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	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 The Open University University of Sheffield University of Surrey University of the West of Scotland
United States	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 Rhode Island University of South Carolina University of Tennessee University of Texas University of Utah University of Wisconsin-Madison Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech

Organizations

American Nuclear Society
Asian Network for Education in Nuclear Technology https://www.iaea.org/services/networks/anent
Canadian Nuclear Association
Chinese Nuclear Society
International Atomic Energy Agency
International Energy Agency
Japan Atomic Industrial Forum
Korea Nuclear Energy Agency
Latin American Network for Education in Nuclear Technology https://www.iaea.org/services/networks/lanent
Minerals Council of Australia
Nucleareurope
Nuclear Institute
Nuclear Energy Institute
Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa
Nuclear Technology Education Consortion https://www.ntec.ac.uk/
OECD [Nuclear Energy Agency]
Regional Network for Education and Training in Nuclear Technology https://www.iaea.org/services/networks/star-net
World Nuclear Association
World Nuclear Transport Institute