Chad Nixon Email & Phone Number

Alameda, Ca, Us

Alameda, California, United States

- Currently lead a small team within the Reactor Systems group to develop a first-of-a-kind Reactivity Control and Shutdown System (RCSS) for the Kairos Power Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) through iterative design-build-test cycles.

Alameda, California, United States

- Responsible engineer leading the development of the Reactivity Control and Shutdown System (RCSS) for the Kairos Power Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (KP-FHR).- Coordinated development testing activities, prototype manufacturing, and the design, assembly, and operation of the RCSS for the Engineering Test Units (ETUs), a series of non-nuclear isothermal KP-FHR integrated test facilities.

Alameda, California, United States

- Developed the mechanical design of the drive mechanisms and neutron absorber elements for the Reactivity Control and Shutdown System (RCSS) of the Engineering Test Unit (ETU), a non-nuclear isothermal Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR) integrated test facility.- Performed thermal and dynamic analysis on sub-systems and components.- Managed CAD models (in SolidWorks) and generated mechanical drawings for all components.- Demonstrated component functionality through an iterative development process with full-scale prototypes.

- Designed and operated a versatile high-temperature nitrate salt test stand to conduct functional and high-temperature salt testing on prototypic Flouride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR) Reactivity Control and Shutdown System (RCSS) components. - Enabled rapid iterative development of FHR RCSS components through successive design-build-test cycles.

Corvallis, Oregon Area

Configuration Manager, Traveling Wave Reactor Loop (TWRL) Test Facility

Corvallis, Oregon Area

- Developed a new method for monitoring the flow-induced vibrations of a cylinder, utilizing a single, high-resolution distributed strain sensor (DSS) instrumented in a helical configuration along its surface. The fiber optic sensing system used in this method was the Optical Distributed Sensor Interrogator (ODiSI) model B developed by Luna Innovations Inc.- Contributed to the design of a large-scale, isothermal water flow loop to conduct flow-induced vibration testing with the intent of utilizing the above method to monitor the vibration of individual pins within a full-length sodium-cooled fast reactor surrogate fuel assembly.

Richland/Kennewick/Pasco, Washington Area

Richland/Kennewick/Pasco, Washington Area

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Nuclear Engineering

Master Of Science - Ms, Materials Science & Engineering

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering