Title:

What is EPRI? and Selected topics in Commercial Nuclear Plant Research

Speaker:

Dr. James Wall

Affiliation:

Electric Power Research Institute

When:

Friday, April 8, 2011 at 3:00:00 PM   Add to Calendar

Where:

MRDC Building, Room 4211

Host:

Richard Neu
rick.neu@me.gatech.edu
404-894-3074

Abstract

Commercial nuclear power generation is used widely in the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia as a significant portion of individual countries’ energy portfolios. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Nuclear Sector performs science and engineering research and development for entities operating a large portion of nuclear operators (100% US, ~ 35% International). EPRI serves as a conduit to bring researchers in industry, academia, national laboratories, and regulatory bodies together to solve both emergent and anticipated problems in a broad range of fields. A general description of EPRI Nuclear will be given, with focus on the EPRI NDE Program and how it works to solve industry issues. Several examples of ongoing research will be discussed in light of the EPRI Long Term Operation (LTO) drive, which works in concert with the US Department of Energy and a growing number of international entities to define, prioritize, and develop solutions for the aging fleet of commercial power reactors. A discussion of recent events at Fukushima Daiichi plant will be provided as well.

Biography

Dr. James J. Wall (Joe) is a Project Manager in the Nuclear Sector at EPRI, working in the NDE group for the past 3+ years. Currently he jointly holds an Adjunct Assistant Professorship in the GWW School of Mechanical Engineering. Prior to that, he spent two years working at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Wall has a Bachelor’s of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from University Missouri. He has a Ph.D. in Materials Science from University Tennessee. Dr. James research interests are varied and multidisciplinary, including: damage effects on posttensioned concrete structures, thermodynamics, kinetics of metals and alloys, as well as aggregate materials, solidification of metals and alloys, radiation damage in solids, and advanced NDE techniques.

Notes

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