Abstract:
An overview of national energy policy and fast reactor research and development (R&D) efforts in the U.S. will be provided by Dr. Bo Feng who is the National Technical Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Fast Reactor Program and the manager of the Reactor and Fuel Cycle Analysis Group from the Argonne National Laboratory. There is significant interest and investment in advanced reactor technologies from the U.S. private sector, with dozens of reactor companies working on advanced nuclear projects for a wide array of capabilities. Specific to fast reactors, about a dozen fast reactor companies formed a U.S. industry group in 2017, the Fast Reactor Working Group, which provides important feedback on R&D priorities to the Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and U.S. national laboratories. Recognizing the importance of advanced reactors to meeting the nation’s energy security and climate change goals, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) was initiated in fiscal year (FY) 2020 to develop Federal and U.S. nuclear industry partnerships in the construction and demonstration of domestic advanced nuclear reactor designs that are safe and affordable to build and operate. To help implement this program, the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) in May 2020 for the most promising domestic advanced reactor designs across the technology maturity spectrum, and subsequently selected ten projects that can be developed over the next two decades. Four of these projects support the development and future demonstration of fast reactor concepts. In addition to providing an overview of the U.S. fast reactor industry, Dr. Feng will discuss DOE programs including the Versatile Test Reactor, fast reactor metallic fuel qualification, the Fast Reactor Program's R&D in technology development, computational methods, fast reactor databases, and advanced material development.

Bio:
Dr. Bo Feng manages the Reactor and Fuel Cycle Analysis group within the Nuclear Science and Engineering Division and serves as the National Technical Director for DOE-NE’s Fast Reactor R&D Program, a role that oversees a multi-laboratory R&D portfolio that includes fast reactor technology development and testing, methods validation and database development, and advanced material qualification activities. Throughout his career, his research has focused primarily on reactor physics analysis, advanced reactor core design, radiation transport, and fuel cycle systems modeling. Dr. Feng has received several laboratory and national level awards for his research including Secretary of Energy’s Honor Award (2020), Argonne Director’s Award (2016), DOE’s Fuel Cycle R&D Excellence Award (2014), and ANS Thermal Hydraulic Division’s Best Paper Award (2009). Dr. Feng earned his S.B., S.M., and Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during his time there from 2003 - 2011.