Professor Wood joined by doctoral student Geronimo Robles operate the arc melting furnace, the apparatus in which temps can reach up to 5432 degrees Fahrenheit, and used to test uranium compounds for new ATF fuels.
(Feb. 27, 2019) -- Almost eight years have passed since the accident at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, in which thousands of residents have yet to return to their homes. Now the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has tapped UTSA and other research institutes across the U.S. and abroad to assist with the development of new, accident tolerant fuels (ATF) that will permit nuclear plants to better sustain accidents like the one in 2011.
“What we are looking at is actually changing out the fuel,” said Elizabeth Sooby Wood, a UTSA assistant professor who specializes in materials physics. “We want to replace conventional fuel with something that has higher thermal conductivity, so if we do have an accident, the stored energy in the core is reduced.”
Nuclear power plants use fission to heat water that later produces steam. In turn, the steam helps spin large turbines that generate electricity. At the center of the plant’s reactor is the core, which contains uranium dioxide fuel stored in energy-rich pellets stacked inside metal rods. According to the DOE, a single pellet can produce about the same amount of energy as 150 gallons of oil—all without carbon production.
“The great thing about nuclear energy is that it produces an enormous amount of energy, but the nature of these reactions doesn’t give us a precise ‘off’ button,” said Wood.
>> Learn more about Wood’s lab and her research.
However, in the Japanese disaster, the tsunami flood created power outages to several reactors but the fuel inside the cores and spent fuel storage ponds continued to generate heat. Their overheated water, now steam, reacted with the fuel rods’ zirconium cladding which subsequently caused radioactive material to leak, leading to an evacuation of close to 165,000 residents.
According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and in the aftermath of Fukushima, the nuclear energy industry improved safety precautions. More capabilities were added to maintain key plant safety functions following large-scale natural disasters and new equipment was installed to better handle potential reactor core damaging events. With this new federal grant, UTSA will research ways to synthesize uranium silicide and test the use of additives to enhance the oxidation resistance of the material. Overall, the creation of a new ATF will be part of the industry’s safety efforts to continually self-improve.
“Our understanding of these chemical reactions and the impact to the core materials has come a long way—including the development of new materials that we can deploy as cladding” said Wood.
America is the second biggest consumer of electricity in the world. Currently, about 20 percent of the energy used in the U.S. is generated by nuclear energy in about 99 plants.
This UTSA grant is one of several nuclear projects Wood leads for the university and in which she and her team will collaborate with outside partners such as Southwest Research Institute.
“As a research-intensive university, we are eager to tackle society’s grand challenges. Developing fuels of the future are among those global challenges. Industry and universities are coming together to provide solutions, and we are proud to be part of the team,” said Wood.
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September is National Hispanic Heritage Month. House of Neighborly Service is gearing up to increase awareness of the growing needs of our Westside community while embracing our Hispanic culture every step of the way. Our team is excited to announce the First Annual La Casita del Barrio 1K/5K Walk/Run.
Our Lady of the Lake University, 11 SW 24th St, San Antonio, TX 78207Come experience a Hispanic Market with us!
Rowdy StatueWe will be reading For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez. We will meet on Zoom to discuss the book. The book is free for students who request it, please email multicultural@utsa.edu to request the book and/or to join the Book Club and receive messages and information about this and future readings and discussions.
Virtual EventCome and practice your Spanish in a friendly and engaging environment! You will also learn about Hispanic cultures with us as we play games, watch videos, sing, and participate in many other language and cultural activities! All levels are welcome! ¡Nos vemos!
Willow Room (SU 2.02.12,) Main CampusIn partnership with UTSA Libraries and the Consulado General de México en San Antonio, Carriqui will host Ven a Tomar, where guests will sample mezcal, cocktails and unique bites to celebrate UTSA's Mexican Cookbook Collection.
Carriqui, 239 E Grayson St San Antonio, TX 78215The UTSA Orchestra will be performing Rapsodia Mexicana, a captivating concert celebrating Mexican music and the confluence of cultures in South Texas. Joined by organist Colin Campbell (Texas A&M International University) and UTSA's Mariachi Los Paisanos, watch as the orchestra brings to life the essence of Hispanic culture through their powerful performances.
UTSA Recital Hall, Main CampusA fun night for UTSA students to relax and play loteria. Student Success Centers will also have recourses for students to learn more about programs and services.
Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28,) Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.