Nuclear Energy

Department of Nuclear & Radiological Engineering

UF has the only nuclear engineering department and the only training/research nuclear reactor in the State. The department receives annual funding of over $4M from various organizations such as DOE, NNSA, NASA, INL, ORNL, LANL, AirForce, NIH, and Army. In the Southeast, there are 17 nuclear power plants, from which 5 are producing ~18% of electricity of the State of Florida. The research areas include:

• Advanced Nuclear Fuel Design: Advanced Nuclear Fuel Lab (ANFL)

  The purpose of this lab is to investigate different materials for the design of room-temperature gamma detectors, detectors for other particles including neutrons and beta rays, different techniques for unfolding spectra, and detector assemblies for depth and position measurement. To accomplish our goals, we are planning to procure processing software, power supply, NIM equipment, electronics devices, and equipment for growing crystals. The latter equipment is essential for development and testing of new materials for design of advanced detectors.




• Advanced Radiation Detection System Design: Progress Energy Advanced Radiation Detection (ADRAD) Lab

  The University of Florida Transport Theory Group (UFTTG), directed by Profs. Haghighat and Sjoden, has developed the ENTRAN, 3-D parallel Sn code, and the A3MCNP code, a version of MCNP with automatic variance reduction capability. These code systems utilize the PC clusters available at PTDC for simulation of various real-world nuclear reactor problems. UFTTG has also been involved in the development of accurate and efficient methodologies, i.e., hybrid methods, for performing detailed real-world neutronics calculations. Hybrid methods, which are highly accurate and orders of magnitude faster than straightforward approaches, have been developed. Work has been performed for generation of multigroup cross sections which are essential for performing multigroup deterministic calculations.




• Advanced Simulation Tools for Nuclear Reactors: Particle Transport and Distributed Computing (PTDC) Lab

  The University of Florida Transport Theory Group (UFTTG), directed by Profs. Haghighat and Sjoden, has developed the ENTRAN, 3-D parallel Sn code, and the A3MCNP code, a version of MCNP with automatic variance reduction capability. These code systems utilize the PC clusters available at PTDC for simulation of various real-world nuclear reactor problems. UFTTG has also been involved in the development of accurate and efficient methodologies, i.e., hybrid methods, for performing detailed real-world neutronics calculations. Hybrid methods, which are highly accurate and orders of magnitude faster than straightforward approaches, have been developed. Work has been performed for generation of multigroup cross sections which are essential for performing multigroup deterministic calculations.




• Nuclear Security Systems: Florida Institute of Nuclear Detection and Security (FINDS)

  In April 2004, Florida State Legislature and Governor Bush approved formation of FINDS. The institute, i.e., FINDS, is intended to serve as a design-basis center for research, development, testing, and engineering (RDTE) projects that directly satisfy critical nuclear detection problems facing both the State of Florida and our nation. Finds is engaged in the design and testing of innovative interrogation, detection, and assessment devices for monitoring special nuclear material (SNM). The institute will contribute to the education and training of uniquely qualified scientists and engineers, ready to apply cutting-edge engineering solutions in homeland security, detection, imaging, and interrogation of systems.




• Nuclear Waste Management – Laboratory of Radioactive Waste Management

  The Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Department (NRE) has been active in addressing the challenges of ensuring the safe and secure disposal of the radioactive wastes from the production of nuclear power.  The department has several US Department of Energy (DOE) contracts to address the disposal of nuclear fuel.  Additionally, the department is an accredited member of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) Fellowship Program and currently has DOE OCRWM Graduate Fellows carrying out research in the department.  The safe and secure disposal of nuclear waste is one of the most important research areas in ensuring that nuclear power is an effective contributor to our nations energy needs.  This research is carried out by a joint team of researchers from both the NRE Department and the Material Science and Engineering Department.




• Reactor operation and physics testing: University of Florida Training Reactor (UFTR)

  The UFTR, built in 1959, was one of the first nuclear reactors on a university campus. Today it is one of less than 30 such reactors used for education, training, research and testing at colleges and universities around the United States. The UFTR is used within the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering (NRE) Department to train students to operate nuclear reactors, and also for laboratory courses for a variety of departments including the NRE Department as well as the Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Environmental Engineering Sciences Departments, among others, as a radiation/neutron source for various research programs and experiments such as homeland security, isotope production, trace element analysis of ocean sediments, soil sediments, plants, biological materials, etc.




• Specialized Nuclear Core Designs: Innovative Nuclear Space Power-propulsion Institute (INPSI)

  Prof. Anghaie and his group at the NRE Department are involved in the design of vapor and gaseous core designs; these designs are being considered because of the following aspects: high power density, high efficiency, preferable waste form, and preferable fuel nonproliferation. INSPI has been engaged in the development various fuel designs which can withstand high temperature, while having relatively low weight; therefore achieving high impulse that is essential for traveling to Mars and/or any other planet.