Current Service & Training

The K-State reactor provides nuclear analytic services and training for regional industry.

Spent Fuel Coupon Testing

Spent fuel removed from nuclear power reactors is stored in cooling pools until the fission product decay heat is at a level suitable for disposal.   The U.S. charges all power reactors an annual fee that is supposed to be used to build a final disposal facility, but the facility has not been built.  As a result, power plants have been required to find new ways to store spent fuel at reactor sites; spent fuel pool design has been modified to permit a significantly higher quantity of spent fuel than originally planned.  Spent fuel contains a lot of fissionable material, and enough spent fuel in the right configuration could actually create a nuclear reactor; therefore, the new patterns of usage require additional controls to make sure that the spent fuel does not go "critical."

Boron loaded in Boral or Boraflex is commonly placed in a control structure in spent fuel pools around the elements to make sure the spent fuel does not reach a self sustaining chain reaction.  Boron is soluble, and as a quality assurance measure the Boral/Boraflex is tested periodically to make sure that the boron is not leaching out of the control structure or developing gaps.  K-State performs neutron transmission testing to support

Reactor Operator Training

Reactor operators are licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  The K-State reactor conducts a training program for reactor operator license candidates for the facility.  For power reactors, an initial reactor operator training and qualification program includes training for a General Fundamentals Examination on reactor and power plant theory.  Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station (Omaha Public Power District) initial reactor operator training includes a formal training program at the K-State reactor, operating the reactor and observing reactor behavior in a training environment.

Reactor Operator Requalification Program

All reactor operators are required to participate in a continuing training (requalification) program developed to meet the requirements of 10CFR55.  The K-State reactor conducts a training program approved by the U.S. NRC.  Reactor operators in the Wolf Creek Nuclear Station requalification program are provided with a demonstration of TRIGA operations.

Power Plant Engineer Program - Young People in Nuclear

The North American Young People in Nuclear is a professional development organization for power plant engineers below the age of 35 in the first 10 years of their nuclear careers.  A training and orientation program was conducted for the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station NA-YPN section in 2006, to be developed into a periodic program. 

The FCNS engineers were provided with training in subcritical operations, approach to critical, time dependent reactor behavior, operation at power, and gamma spectroscopy.