Recommended actions to get nuclear power back on track (Sidney Bernsen)

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RECOMMENDED ACTIONS TO GET NUCLEAR POWER BACK ON TRACK By Sidney A Bernsen, PhD Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer Former Chief Nuclear Engineer for Bechtel Power Corporation May 2017 INTRODUCTION I have been actively involved in m many phases of the Nuclear Power program starting in November 1952 when I graduated From Purdue University with a PhD. During that period I worked at Argonne National Laboratory for 5 years and was initially involved in evaluation of nuclear reactors for the dual purpose of providing plutonium and power. Subsequently I worked on the development of Boiling Water power plants including: performing the definitive tests on the Borax reactor at the Nevada Test Site that demonstrated a boiling water reactor could safely run a turbine generator. Subsequently I witnessed the first peaceful production nuclear energy when the Borax reactor supplied electricity supplied to Arco, Nevada in July 1955. I also served s the systems engineer for the design and construction of the Experimental Boiling Water Reactor built at Argonne and started up in1956. Subsequently, I worked as a Project Manager and Systems Engineer at General Atomic from 1957-1960 during the initial development of the Gas Cooled Reactors. From 1961-1963 I served as Nuclear Division Manager at a division of American Standard working on University research reactors and advanced technology power reactor designs. In 1963, I joined Bechtel Corporation. My first assignment was non-nuclear serving a Project Manager for the successful design of a spacecraft environmental test facility for NASA. Subsequently, I served as Engineering Manager for an advanced technology group whose function was to provide support for nuclear and advanced technology assignments. During that time, we did Nuclear Plant site evaluation, studies. nuclear reactor design proposal evaluations. nuclear fuel cycle analyses, nuclear power plant containment analyses, many numerous nuclear and other facility evaluations and technical support assignments. In 1969 I Joined the Bechtel Power Division in 1969 as an Engineering Manager and soon thereafter became the Quality Assurance Manager as well. Also was appointed an American National Standards Working Group developing an Nuclear QA Standard. This group ultimately became a subcommittee and then a full committee under the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) leadership. As the Bechtel Quality Assurance Manager and subsequently the Bechtel Power Corporation’s Corporate Manager of Quality Assurance (as well as the QA Standards Page 1


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Recommended actions to get nuclear power back on track (Sidney Bernsen) by John A. Shanahan - Issuu