Senior Design Team sdmay24-30 • New Nuclear Design for Electric Power Systems
Project Overview
Nuclear power generation has been a mainstay in US electric power systems since the 1970’s. Today, there are about 90 nuclear reactors in the US with generating capacity of almost 100 GW; they provide about 20% of the nation’s total electric energy. However, most of these plants were built in the 1970’s and 1980’s and so are at or beyond expected life. Many have been retired already, and many more will be retired over the next 10 years. Since the old designs were typically large, financially risky due to high cost and long construction times, and often subject to significant public resistance due to the perceived radiation dangers of meltdown, only two new reactors have come on-line in the last 20 years. Yet, these plants are and will remain highly desirable since they are one of the most economically attractive forms of zero-carbon electric generation technologies that are also fully dispatchable (meaning, unlike wind and solar, their output can be specified, i.e., they are capable of following control-command to generate at any MW level between their minimum and maximum capabilities).
In an attempt to balance the negatives (long construction times, high financial risk, perceived low safety) with the positives (zero carbon, dispatchability), the US Department of Energy has been heavily funding over the past 20 years several “new nuclear” technologies. The objective of this project is to identify a “new nuclear” design that provides the highest benefit to cost ratio under a high renewables future.
Project Requirements
1. Identify all reasonably practical “new nuclear” designs that have been suggested so far. Develop a summary report of these technologies that identifies their strengths and weaknesses. Estimate the Benefit to Cost ratio of each design.
2. Based on the various technologies surveyed in step 1, identify a “recommended design” (RD). The RD could be one of the technologies surveyed, or it could be an extension of one of them, or it could be an integration of two or more of them.
3. Illustrate and describe the RD in detail. Identify any significant problems with the design and describe solutions for these problems. Provide a convincing argument that the RD’s Benefit to Cost ratio is better than all other designs considered.
4. Identify and evaluate tools useful in designing and assessing the performance of the nuclear power plant.
Team Members
Dana Boor
Team Lead
Hello! My name is Dana Boor. I am currently a senior at Iowa State University, majoring in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis on power systems. Prior to attending Iowa State, I spent six years in the US Navy as an Electronics Technician. During that time, I was privileged to serve onboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and work firsthand with nuclear reactor technology. I am happy to apply my experience and knowledge on nuclear power towards the design of our team’s new nuclear technology.
Mason Richards
Research and Design
My name is Mason Richards, and I am from Marion, IA, and majoring in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Power Systems. After graduation, I will be working for a transmission utility called ITC doing transmission planning. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, fishing, working on cars, riding my motorcycle, and spending time with family and friends.
Damien Henry
Research and Design
I am a fifth-year student at Iowa State University in concurrent enrollment. I am currently studying for my BS in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, both expected in May of 2024. Following graduation, I will be joining 1898 & Co., a Burns & McDonnell Company as a consulting analyst on their power systems planning team. Outside of school and work, I love to spend time hiking, golfing, and hanging out with my friends.
Zachary Hainline
Research and Design
Hello everyone! My name is Zachary Hainline; I’m currently a Senior majoring in Electrical Engineering, focusing on Power Systems. Upon graduation, I will be working at MidAmerican Energy Company out of Davenport, Iowa, where I'm from and grew up all my life. At MidAmerican, my role will be working in the System Protection department, a part of the SCADA team. Outside of school, I enjoy watching dirt track racing and watching/playing sports.
Jeremy Yost
Research and Design
Hello, my name is Jeremy Yost. I am a senior majoring in Electrical Engineering, focusing on Electromagnetic Fields, Antennas, & Propagation. I am from Eldridge, IA, near the Quad Cities. After graduating, I plan to continue my experience with Electromagnetism by joining a company for non-destructive evaluation. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, fishing, going to baseball games, and playing video games.
Syukri Zainal
Research and Design
Hi, my name is Syukri Zainal, a soon-to-be graduate in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Power Systems hailing from the picturesque state of Perak, Malaysia. My experience here in Iowa State has equipped me with a profound interest in exploring alternative energy solutions, driven by a passion to contribute to a cleaner and sustainable environment. Post-graduation, I am excited to channel my knowledge and experiences into practice by joining an electrical utility company in my hometown. My goal is to contribute to the community's well-being through the implementation of innovative and eco-friendly solutions. Beyond my professional endeavors, I find joy in playing basketball and travelling.
Weekly Reports
Report 1 (Semester 1)Report 2 (Semester 1)
Report 3 (Semester 1)
Report 4 (Semester 1)
Report 5 (Semester 1)
Report 1 (Semester 2)
Report 2 (Semester 2)
Report 3 (Semester 2)
Report 4 (Semester 2)
Design Documents
Semester 1 Design DocumentFinal Report
Media
Midterm Peer Review VideoFinal Project Demo Video
Project Poster
Final Panel Presentation