Nuclear Energy: Fundamentals, Applications and Future Development
Dr. Kevin T. Hodgson
Professor Emeritus, Bioresource Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering
University of Washington
Nuclear energy for electrical power generation has become a much more accepted technology globally after many years of being a maligned source of energy, particularly in response to 3 major nuclear power plant accidents (Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukashima). Public sentiment over potential climate change due to the use of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide generation, along with the lack thereof with nuclear power have played major roles in this shift. Also at play is the realization of the increasingly larger current and future power demands with construction of massive data centers and the increasing use of AI. In this presentation, we will first review some basic chemistry and atomic structure principles, and the significant differences between chemical reactions present in combustion processes versus nuclear reactions. The concept of chemical isotopes is introduced along with the basics of atomic fission (i.e. ”splitting” of atoms) and the resulting energy effects. The exclusive use of 3 major elemental isotopes (uranium, plutonium, and thorium) and why is brought up. In addition to electricity generation, the applications of nuclear energy in atomic weapons manufacture, medicine, and food sterilization are briefly discussed. Future developments underway utilizing nuclear energy such as small modular reactors (SMR) for power and heat, and the opposite of nuclear fission called nuclear “fusion” are covered in some detail. The promise of nuclear fusion power, despite its spectacular advantages over fission, is most likely still many, many years away.
Kevin Hodgson was born and raised in Seattle and earned his BS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington, along with an MS degree in Chemical Engineering and Colloids, Polymers, and Surfaces from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Hodgson’s career spans both the public and private sectors, having been Professor of Bioresources and Chemical Engineering at the UW for 22 years, Adjunct Professor in Energy Science and Engineering at Oregon State University (Cascades Campus) for 5 years, and working for the Weyerhaeuser Company and the North Pacific Paper Corporation (NORPAC) for 15 years in pulp and paper R&D and manufacturing. He has also served as a technical consultant and short course educator for various companies and professional organizations in the Pulp and Paper Industry. Over his career Dr. Hodgson has published over 40 technical papers in the scientific literature and made over 25 presentations at various technical conferences in the US and abroad. He was selected for a prestigious Fulbright Senior Scholar award for research and teaching in New Zealand in 2004, developed and taught a UW Exploration Seminar course.