CINR topic areas: The webinars covering the new CINR program were held August 9–August 11, kicking off with overviews of the DOE’s nuclear energy research and development programs, funding opportunity announcement (FOA) process, Nuclear Science User Facilities, and University Nuclear Leadership Program. Details of the following seven topic areas in the CINR were also discussed:
- Reactor development and plant optimization, including advanced reactor development, integrated energy systems, remote deployment, siting, artificial intelligence, economic competitiveness, and integrated research projects.
- Fuel cycle technologies, including aqueous separations, molten salt separations, spent fuel, and waste disposition.
- Fuels, including accident-tolerant, TRISO, and metallic fuels.
- Modeling and simulation, including multiscale modeling, verification, and validation/uncertainty quantification.
- Instrumentation and controls, including sensors, advanced control systems, and advanced nuclear cybersecurity.
- Licensing and safety, including risk-informed systems analysis, safety implications of process heat, and advanced reactors and fuel cycle facilities material accountancy.
- Advanced nuclear materials, including light water and advanced reactor core or structural materials, advanced manufacturing technologies, and material for fuel recycling applications.
Feedback request: Paul Wilson, chair of the Department of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and of the Nuclear Engineering Department Heads Organization (NEDHO), is requesting that NEDHO members review the FY23 draft CINR and webinar schedule and provide feedback by Friday, August 19. Though not available as of this writing, the videos of the webinars should soon be posted online. Submitted comments will be compiled by the NEDHO Executive Committee and submitted to the DOE in anticipation of the department’s yet-to-be-published FOA.
