Sponsored Article Image

A message from PacTec, Inc.

Innovating for the Nuclear Industry

Learn More

Research & Applications

WSU students deliver nuclear safeguards designs for the NNSA

March 19, 2021, 9:30AMANS Nuclear Cafe

Meeting remotely, WSU students deliver two nonproliferation projects to NNSA and PNNL staff. Source: NNSA

In a program sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, teams of engineering students from Washington State University designed, built, and delivered prototype equipment to address challenges encountered by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory staff in research on nuclear safeguards.

As reported on March 11 by the NNSA, two teams of WSU students presented their projects to PNNL staff during an online meeting in December 2020. One team created physical training aids for safeguards courses to demonstrate two methods of nuclear fuel reprocessing. The other team developed an enrichment monitor mounting bracket that the International Atomic Energy Agency could use to help monitor uranium hexafluoride gas in enrichment facilities.

Working together: Over the course of the program, the teams worked together to overcome obstacles, such as selecting the best materials for the mounting bracket. The teams accomplished both projects on time and under budget.

Thinking creatively: “Supporting the nonproliferation mission often requires creative problem-solving,” said Kasia Mendelsohn, acting deputy administrator for the NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. “This WSU-PNNL safeguards program is exactly the kind of innovation we need and demonstrates that these teams are more than capable of being productive in a virtual environment.”

Tags:
defense nuclear nonproliferationdoeenrichment facilitiesiaeannsanuclear nonproliferationnuclear safeguardspnnluranium hexafluoride gaswsu
Share:
LinkedInTwitterFacebookEmail

Related Articles

The current status of heat pipe R&D

October 10, 2025, 4:42PMNuclear NewsIlyas Yilgor, Mauricio Tano, Katrina Sweetland, Joshua Hansel, and Piyush Sabharwall

Idaho National Laboratory under the Department of Energy–sponsored Microreactor Program recently conducted a comprehensive phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT) exercise aimed at...

DOE, NRC prepare for government shutdown

October 1, 2025, 12:03PMNuclear News

The Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will furlough thousands of employees and operate at reduced capacity under a government shutdown that started after midnight on...

Oklo breaks ground at INL on Aurora reactor

September 29, 2025, 6:25AMNuclear News

Following the same milestones from Aalo Atomics and Valar Atomics, Santa Clara, Calif.–based reactor start-up Oklo has become the third company participating in the Department of Energy’s...