Energy lecture series

Exploring technical excellence and

innovation across the energy sector

Lecture two. nuclear

Fissions future:
Molten Salt Reactors
can they be the answer?
Speakers: Barry Snelson and Paul Littler
19 May 2014. 17.30 for 18.00 at The Centre, Birchwood Park, Warrington.

Barry Snelson and Paul Littler both consider

the case for Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) as
a viable option for new energy technology
and the opportunities for UK nuclear.

The world is looking

beyond the current options
for nuclear energy and is
exploring new ways to
exploit the phenomenon
of fission. Its thirteen
years since nine countries
formed the Generation
IV International Forum
to review and sponsor
the development of new
reactor types which would
be a step change from
todays designs. Scores of
concepts were reviewed
and six technologies have
been deemed worthy of
international support and
collaboration. One of the
most interesting of these,
and probably the most
technically challenging, is
the Molten Salt Reactor
(MSR).
The concept of MSRs is not
a new one having been
demonstrated by Oakridge
National Laboratory in the
USA the 1950s. Could this
old concept be one of the
technology solutions to
meet future energy needs?

Teams of nuclear
technologists are at work
across the world on the
development of MSRs,
including significant
progress in China, a
country that has recently
announced an acceleration
of its MSR programme
and plans to build a fullyfunctioning MSR within 10
years!
This seminar looks to
define what makes MSRs
different, highlighting their
perceived benefits together
with the real challenges
associated with the
technology. The seminar
will provide an overview
of the current state of
global MSR development
and finally poses the
question as to whether
the UK nuclear industry
might get involved in
MSR development in a
constructive and beneficial
way.

Paul Littler
Technical Director.
Atkins, Nuclear

Barry Snelson
MBE, B.Eng,
C.Eng, FIMechE

Paul is a Chartered Engineer

and Fellow of the Nuclear
Institute, having spent more
than 30 years in the nuclear
industry, initially working as a
reactor systems designer on
Naval PWRs, to his current
role as Technical Director
within the Nuclear business
of Atkins. The majority of
Pauls career has been in the
delivery of nuclear safety
related projects; as well as
undertaking licensing and
regulatory support activities
for a variety of nuclear plants
and nuclear site licensees
both in the UK and overseas.
Over the last six years Paul
has been technically leading
Atkins engagement in the
new build market, working
with both reactor vendors and
prospective utilities.

Barry has retired after 30

years in the UK nuclear
industry working for British
Nuclear Fuels plc. He has
been responsible for nuclear
activities across the full range
including uranium conversion
and the production of
all uranium compounds,
centrifugal isotopic
separation, metal, oxide and
mixed oxide fuel production,
transport, reprocessing, waste
management and clean up
programmes. He was Chair
of International Nuclear
Services Ltd and sat on the
Governing Board of the
World Association of Nuclear
Operators, Paris Centre. His
last post was as Managing
Director of Sellafield Ltd.
He was awarded the MBE
for services to the nuclear
industry in 2007.

This is a free event

Refreshments will be served in the

Chesnut Room from 17.30.

Please reserve your place

online by clicking here.

The lecture will begin at 18.00 in the

Auditorium, followed by canaps at
19.00.

or email:
energyevents@atkinsglobal.com
+ 44 1332 225622
For more information on Atkins in the
energy sector, please visit
www.atkinsglobal.com/energy

19 May 2014
The Centre
Birchwood Park
Warrington
WA3 6YN
The Centre is located between Liverpool
and Manchester. It is easy to access and
just minutes from Warrington, the M6
and M62.

For direction and parking information,

please click here.