Gyutae (Jack) Park

Gyutae (Jack) Park is a PhD candidate in nuclear science and engineering whose research is focused on the design and optimization of microreactors, also known as nuclear batteries (NB), a potentially critical source of carbon-free energy that is smaller than a traditional reactor. Specifically, Jack is pursuing the design optimization of two NB design concepts: a sodium-cooled, graphite-moderated, thermal-spectrum microreactor and an organic-cooled (hydrocarbons), water-moderated thermal-spectrum microreactor. Jack is considering the factors of core neutronics and thermal-hydraulics safety, balance of plant design, and plant cost. In particular, he hopes to identify the sensitivity of each design parameter to determine which inputs play a key role in determining each reactor’s figures of merits, such as cycle length, operating power, cost, and electricity generation. MATLAB has been one of the primary coding platforms for Jack’s project. His research has the potential to advance microreactors, which represent a renewable energy source with a wide range of applications, including industrial heat and/or electricity sources, disaster relief, remote defense installations, maritime and space propulsion, and surface power for moon and planetary exploration.