Nuclear energy is a method of generating electricity through a process called nuclear fission. Simply put, the process splits an atom into smaller parts during which energy is also released in the form of heat. This heat is incorporated into a power plant to ultimately produce electricity. Nuclear energy in Ontario currently uses the CANDU reactor system, a Canadian design which uses deuterium (heavy water) to moderate the reaction. Research in nuclear energy is based on Generation IV reactors, which aim to increase safety and efficiency of the reactors. Supercritical water reactors, which use supercritical water as the working fluid, is currently being researched at Carleton University.
Who is involved?
- Professor John Goldak (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
- Professor Junjie Gu (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
- Professor Xiao Huang (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
- Professor Metin Yaras (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)