Nuclear engineering

Nuclear engineering is the engineering discipline concerned with designing and applying systems that utilize the energy released by nuclear processes.^[1]^[2] The most prominent application of nuclear engineering is the generation of electricity. Worldwide, some 440 nuclear reactors in 32 countries generate 10 percent of the world's energy through nuclear fission.^[3] In the future, it is expected that nuclear fusion will add another nuclear means of generating energy.^[4] Both reactions make use of the nuclear binding energy released when atomic nucleons are either separated (fission) or brought together (fusion). 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,^[5] without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.^[6]

What nuclear engineers do

Nuclear engineers work in such areas as the following:^[7]^[8]^[9]

Nuclear reactor design, which has evolved from the Generation I, proof-of concept, reactors of the 1950s and 1960s,^[10] 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 a 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^[11]
Nuclear security (detection of clandestine nuclear materials)^[12]
Nuclear engineering even has a role in criminal investigation,^[13] and agriculture.^[14]

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.^[15]

History of nuclear engineering

Nuclear engineering was born in 1938, with the discovery of nuclear fission.^[16] 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 earliest known nuclear reaction on Earth occurred naturally, 1.7 billion years ago, in Oklo, Gabon, Africa.) 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 bomb was code named Gadget^[17] which was used in the Trinity Nuclear Test.^[18] The weapon was believed to have a yield of around 20 kilotons of TNT.

The first nuclear reactor to generate electricity was Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I), which did so near Arco, Idaho, in 1951.^[19] 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 appears to be the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, which produced electricity in 1957.

For a brief chronology, from the discovery of uranium to the current era, see Outline History of Nuclear Energy or History of Nuclear Power.

See List of Commercial Nuclear Reactors for a comprehensive listing of nuclear power reactors and IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) for worldwide and country-level statistics on nuclear power generation.

Where nuclear engineers work

In the United States, nuclear engineers are employed as follows:^[20]

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

Worldwide, job prospects for nuclear engineers are likely best in those countries that are active in or exploring nuclear technologies^{[citation needed]}:

Country	Nuclear capabilities
Algeria	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Argentina	See Nuclear Power in Argentina.
Armenia	See Nuclear Power in Armenia.
Australia	See nuclear sector and Australia's Uranium.
Austria	"Austria operates one central radioactive waste management and interim storage facility – Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH (NES) for pre-disposal management including treatment, conditioning and interim storage of low- and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW)."^[21] Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH (NES) collects, processes, conditions, and stores radioactive waste and does decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities for the Republic of Austria.^[22]
Azerbaijan	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Bangladesh	See WNA:Bangladesh and Nuclear Power in Bangladesh.
Belarus	See WNA:Belarus and Nuclear Power in Belarus.
Belgium	See Nuclear Power in Belgium and nuclear sector.
Bolivia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Botswana	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Brazil	See nuclear sector and Nuclear Power in Brazil.
Bulgaria	See nuclear sector and Nuclear Power in Bulgaria.
Burundi	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Cambodia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Canada	WNA: Nuclear Power in Canada, nuclear sector, and Nuclear Power in Canada.
Central African Republic	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Chile	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
China	See WNA:Nuclear Power in China, and Nuclear Power in China.
Congo, Democratic Republic	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Croatia	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Slovenia and Nuclear Power in Croatia.
Czech Republic	See WNA: Nuclear Power in Czech Republic and Nuclear Power in the Czech Republic.
Cuba	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Denmark	See WNA:Nuclear Energy in Denmark and Nuclear Power in Denmark.
Ecuador	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Egypt	See Start of construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant and El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.
Equatorial Guinea	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Estonia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Ethiopia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Finland	See WPA:Nuclear Power in Finland and Nuclear Power in Finland.
France	See WPA:Nuclear Power in France and Nuclear Power in France.
Gabon	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Georgia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Germany	See WPA:Nuclear Power in Germany and Nuclear Power in Germany.
Ghana	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Guinea	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa
Guyana	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Hungary	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Hungary and Nuclear Power in Hungary.
India	See WNA:Nuclear Power in India and Nuclear Power in India.
Indonesia	See WNPA:Nuclear Power in Indonesia and Nuclear Power in Indonesia.
Iran	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Iran and Nuclear Power in Iran.
Israel	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Italy	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Italy and Nuclear Power in Italy.
Japan	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Japan and Nuclear Power in Japan.
Jordan	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Jordan and Nuclear Power in Jordan.
Kazakhstan	See WNA:Uranium and Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan and Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan.
Kenya	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Korea, North	See Nuclear power in North Korea.
Korea, South	See WNA:Nuclear Power in South Korea and Nuclear Power in South Korea.
Kyrgyzstan	See WNA:Uranium in Kyrgyzstan.
Laos	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Latvia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Lithuania	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Lithuania and Nuclear Power in Lithuania.
Malawi	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Malaysia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Mali	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Mauritania	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Mexico	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Mexico and Nuclear Power in Mexico.
Mongolia	See WNA:Uranium in Mongolia.
Morocco	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Myanmar	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Namibia	See WNA:Uranium in Namibia.
Netherlands	See WNA:Nuclear Power in the Netherlands and Nuclear Power in the Netherlands.
New Zealand	See WNA:Nuclear Energy Prospects in New Zealand.
Niger	See WNA:Uranium in Niger.
Nigeria	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Norway	See Nuclear power in Norway.
Oman	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Pakistan	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Pakistan and Nuclear Power in Pakistan.
Paraguay	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Peru	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Philippines	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Poland	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Poland and Nuclear Power in Poland.
Romania	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Romania and Nuclear Power in Romania.
Russia	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Russia and Nuclear Power in Russia.
Rwanda	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Saudi Arabia	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia and Nuclear Power in Saudi Arabia.
Senegal	See WNA: Uranium in Africa and Uranium in Africa.
Serbia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Singapore	See Singapore is considering the nuclear option for its energy transition... again.
Slovakia	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Slovakia and Nuclear Power in Slovakia.
Slovenia	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Slovenia and Nuclear Power in Slovenia.
South Africa	See WNA:Nuclear Power in South Africa and Nuclear Power in South Africa.
Spain	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Spain and Nuclear Power in Spain.
Sri Lanka	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Sudan	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Sweden	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Sweden and Nuclear Power in Sweden.
Switzerland	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Switzerland and Nuclear Power in Switzerland.
Syria	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Taiwan	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Taiwan and Nuclear Power in Taiwan.
Tajikistan	See WNA:Uranium in Tajikistan.
Tanzania	See WNA:Uranium in Africa.
Thailand	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Tunisia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Turkey	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Turkey and Nuclear Power in Turkey.
Uganda	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Ukraine	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Ukraine and Nuclear Power in Ukraine
United Arab Emirates	See WNA:Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates and Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates.
United Kingdom	See WNA:Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom and Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom.
United States	See WNA:Nuclear Power in the USA and Nuclear Power in the USA.
Uzbekistan	See WNA:Uranium in Uzbekistan.
Venezuela	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Vietnam	See WNA:Nuclear Power in Vietnam and Nuclear Power in Vietnam.
Yemen	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Zambia	See Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries.
Zimbabwe	See WNA:Uranium in Africa.