The lights have been on for 60 years 

Happy Birthday EBR I

Exactly 60 years ago today in Arco, Idaho, scientists and engineers (right) successfully used nuclear energy to power four 200-watt light bulbs, laying the groundwork for decades of clean electricity and a strong U.S. nuclear energy industry.

At 1:23pm on December 20, 1951, Argonne National Laboratory director Walter Zinn scribbled into his log book, “Electricity flows from atomic energy. Rough estimate indicates 45 kw.” At that moment, scientists from Argonne and the National Reactor Testing Station watched four light bulbs glow, powered by the world’s first nuclear reactor to generate electricity.

Fifteen years later, in Arco, Idaho, President Johnson stood at this same site and designated the reactor a national historic landmark. He said, “We have moved far to tame for peaceful uses the mighty forces unloosed when the atom was split. And we have only just begun. What happened here merely raised the curtain on a very promising drama in our long journey for a better life.”

$3 million gift supports training of future nuclear engineers

Now sixty years later the industry is looking for the next six years of life and that means more nuclear engineers. The University of North Carolina Charlotte has received a major gift to support its efforts to train them. Westinghouse Electric Co. announced Dec 13 that it was committing the money to the university’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center.  The gift includes scholarships and funds for equipment. 

Westinghouse will provide two 30-ton cranes to use in high bay research building. They are the same types of cranes used in nuclear power plants.

The university is finishing a $76 million facility at its Charlotte Research Institute campus. It houses the school’s environmental, electrical, and computer engineering programs.

Earlier this year Duke Energy and Siemens Energy announced an $8.8 million gift toward support for the center.

China to resume nuclear projects after release of new safety rules

Nuclear engineers are also needed in China. Last April China shut down approvals of new reactor projects pending a major update of the nation’s nuclear safety regulations.  On November 13 the Ministry of Environmental Protection released the new safety rules.  In response, Zhao Chengkun, VP of the China Nuclear Energy Association, told English language financial wire services this action is “good news” for China’s nuclear industry.

It means the central government will allow new projects to start governed by the new rules. Older projects which are already underway never stopped construction, but will have to comply with the new rules.  China is reported to be increasing the staff of its nuclear inspection workforce from 300 to over 1,000.

China is building at least two dozen new nuclear reactors with another 50 planned in the future.  The new rules may result in a shift from China’s current domestic Gen II design to a hybrid composed of technology transferred from the Westinghouse AP1000. It is a Gen III design with passive safety features that will cool the reactor in the event of the loss of all electrical poweR.

The expansion of the nuclear regulatory agency will create opportunities for western nuclear engineering expertise to provide consulting services to China.  The Wall Street Journal reported Dec 6 that Chicago based Exelon Corp. will provide training services to the China National Nuclear Corp..

In the meantime, Westinghouse told the Wall Street Journal Dec 6 that it expects to restart negotiations with China in early 2012 to build more AP1000 reactors.  The firm said their Chinese counterparts have emphasized the need to transfer expertise about safety procedures as well as the basics of running reactors.

It's possible that future graduates from UNC Charlotte will wind up working on Westinghouse reactors in China.

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