Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering

What is NPRE?

Nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering is a branch of engineering primarily related to the development and use of nuclear energy and radiation sources for a wide variety of applications in energy production, in materials processing and science, and for biomedical and industrial use. This discipline includes the continued safe and reliable applications of fission reactors as central electric power plant thermal sources and the use of radiation sources in areas such as materials, biological systems, medical treatment, radiation instrumentation, environmental systems, and activation analysis.

What do NPRE Engineers do?

NPRE engineers study nuclear power and the radiological applications that have emerged in the last half of this century to play a central role in the quality of life and the security we currently enjoy. Applications of nuclear technology will continue to play an important and pivotal role as the needs for electricity expand and new, important uses of radiation are found and developed in the United States and around the world.

Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at UIUC

The curriculum in NPRE provides a solid base from which to pursue careers in a variety of fields that develop and employ nuclear, plasma, and radiological applications. All of these areas, listed below, are heavily dependent on advanced computers and computational techniques.

Nuclear Power: This field involves the study of nuclear fission power, which accounts for more than 20% of the total electricity generated nationally and continues to be a major component of the nuclear engineering profession. A new generation of nuclear fission power plants is being constructed and deployed around the world, particularly in the Pacific Rim. Nuclear energy is increasingly chosen to provide a safe, nonpolluting source of electricity for many developed and developing nations.
Nuclear Safety and Reliability: This field, which involves the understanding and development of safety and control capabilities for new and existing nuclear systems, is a significant line of interest as nuclear plant availability increases and more modern techniques for monitoring and regulating nuclear plants become available.
Environmental Applications of Nuclear Technology: This field involves waste packaging, transport, and storage, which are currently a major focus of the nuclear industry. Lesser known, but equally important, are the uses of neutron activation analysis and other radiological techniques to identify trace levels of impurities and pollutants in the environment and to monitor changes in soil, ground water, and air contaminants. Similar nuclear sensing techniques are employed for oil and mineral exploration and other nonintrusive surveying applications.
Nuclear Fusion: This field involves the development of nuclear fusion, which is strongly research-oriented. The design and construction of experimental fusion machines, which present a considerable engineering challenge, will provide the basis for the eventual commercialization of fusion as a reliable and plentiful energy source.
Plasma Engineering and Applications: This field involves the study of plasmas which, while important for nuclear fusion, find a wide variety of applications for materials processing, waste processing, diagnostic techniques, and as sources of light.
Radiological Engineering and Applications: This field involves the study of radiation for use in a variety of biological, medical, and processing applications. These applications include imaging, diagnostics, and therapy in a number of medical fields and similar applications for materials and for process monitoring and control.
Instrumentation and Process Control: This field involves the development and application of diagnostic techniques that are central to many industrial, commercial, and health applications. Because radiation often provides a useful source of diagnostic or nondestructive interrogation, its use is central to the development of novel process and control instrumentation.

Career Opportunities

Nuclear engineers find employment in a wide range of companies from Illinois Power to Proctor and Gamble. The curriculum also prepares its graduates to continue formal education at the graduate level.

Why NPRE?

The NPR engineering curriculum emphasizes engineering design, the development of communication skills, computer skills, and team work to prepare students to meet the challenges of the discipline and the many opportunities it embodies. Graduates of this department are well prepared to meet the challenges of supplying energy for our future.

Department Contact Information:

Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
214 Nuclear Engineering Lab., MC-234
103 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

Telephone: 217-244-5382
Fax: 217-333-2906
Email: nuclear@uiuc.edu
Web page: http://www.ne.uiuc.edu

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