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Apprenticeship training course

Nuclear reactor desk engineer (level 6)

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Information about Nuclear reactor desk engineer (level 6)

Operate, monitor and control the nuclear reactor and associated equipment in normal operational mode, as well as abnormal conditions.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Nuclear industry regulatory framework. For example: Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and 1969.
  • Nuclear reactor failure modes and potential consequences. For example: fuel pin failure and radiological release to atmosphere.
  • Control panel indications and control loop status for different modes of reactor operation, for example: start up, steady state and shut down.
  • Hazards affecting reactor control and operation. For example: Loss of automatic control or external factors such as flooding cold weather, loss of grid. The principles ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) and BAT (best available techniques).
  • Principles of deterministic fault analysis and probabilistic risk analysis.
  • Principles and application of radiological protection; including time, distance, shielding, effects of exposure on human health, for example non-stochastic effects and the environment.
  • Fundamental engineering mathematics such as scientific notation, unit conversion, graphs and exponential functions and rate concepts applied to radioactive decay and process controls.
  • Reactor physics, the neutron lifecycle and design of reactor systems.
  • Nuclear physics and reactor theory principles for power reactors.
  • Thermal hydraulics and Thermal Dynamics including multiphase heat transfer, feedback coefficients, the coupling between reactor physics and thermal hydraulics.
  • Reactor materials including properties and selection criteria of reactor materials; the mechanisms of corrosion and degradation and the effects of irradiation on materials including fuel.
  • Chemistry including key functions of chemistry controls to maintain the integrity of materials on both primary and secondary circuits.
  • Interdependencies of reactor physics, reactor materials, chemistry and thermal hydraulics on the design and operation of reactor systems.
  • Key components used in conventional plant and reactor systems, for example valves, pumps, heat exchangers.
  • The operating principles and application of electrical components. For example: isolators, circuit breakers, motors, generators and protective devices.
  • Symbols used in engineering drawings, diagrams, schematics and their application in the performance of licensed duties.
  • The operating principles of basic sensors, instruments, and control systems used in plant systems; ensuring the accuracy of instrumentation, and calibration frequencies.
  • Design of major plant systems such as feed water, steam systems, reactor support systems, decay heat removal systems, emergency injection systems and long term cooling systems. Fundamental plant operating principles, including start-up of a main steam turbine.
  • Operating License and Technical Procedures that define the operating parameters for the plant.
  • Error prevention techniques that support safe, reliable operation, for example Stop, Think, Act Review (STAR) and Peer Checking.
  • Multi-disciplined team working, conflict management, error likely situations and interactions with other team members of different personality types.
  • Documentation for example departmental policies and directives, normal and abnormal operating procedures, surveillance procedures and emergency planning procedures.
  • Fire protection and fire-fighting procedures (systems and techniques).
  • Operating experience of key nuclear industry events such as Windscale, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukishima, and events outside the nuclear industry such as Challenger Space Shuttle, US Airways, Nimrod, Piper Alpha, and relating these to the lessons learnt such as organisational weaknesses and plant design.

Skills

  • Following operational and maintenance procedures; maintaining compliance with technical specifications.
  • Making recommendations utilising technical knowledge. For example: modifications to system and component design throughout the reactor lifecycle.
  • Monitoring and evaluating plant conditions under different modes of operation, for example shut down, start up, abnormal, fault, emergency and critical steady state operations.
  • Communicating verbally - face to face and via radio. For example: using error prevention techniques such as 3 way communications and use of phonetic alphabet.
  • Evaluating pre-defined calculations for reactor physics and thermal hydraulics. Taking action to maintain compliance with technical procedures.
  • Directing people and operations, exercising authority.
  • Using error prevention techniques, such as STAR and peer checking, procedural use and adherence, briefing, flagging.
  • Validating plant system information by using multiple sources, such as data processing systems, hard wired indications and feed-back from plant operatives.
  • Analysing information, such as plant information and trends in data.
  • Operating the panel controls to transition between manual, start-up and/or automatic modes of operation.
  • Responding to abnormal events and/or alarms.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of corrective actions and their impact.
  • Using IT applications. For example: word, email, plant computing and control systems.
  • Communicating – written. For example handover logs, condition reports and email.
  • Time management. For example planning and scheduling work.

Behaviours

  • Professional. For example, reliable, integrity, polite and courteous.
  • Team player. For example takes account of impact of own work on others, helps and supports colleagues.
  • Committed to personal development, learning and self- improvement. For example: open to feedback and takes responsibility to identifying learning opportunities.
  • Committed to safety. For example: leads by example, demonstrates visible proactive approach to safety, challenges unsafe behaviours and understanding of the consequences as set out in the nuclear industry requirements.
  • Takes responsibility for own actions, for example ensuring all rules procedures and principles forsafe reliable operation are complied with.
  • Committed to sustainability and minimising environmental impact.
  • Advocate for the nuclear industry. For example, presents positive arguments, challenges misconceptions.
  • Adaptable. For example changes style or approach dependent on situation, circumstances and environment.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Engineering and manufacturing
Qualification level
6
Equal to degree
Course duration
30 months
Maximum funding
£27,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Reactor Desk Engineer
  • Reactor Panel Operator
  • Main Control Desk Operator
  • Reactor Operator
  • Assistant Engineer Operations

View more information about Nuclear reactor desk engineer (level 6) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.