Imperial and Rolls-Royce open new centre

A new hub for excellence in nuclear science and engineering research and training opens -News

Thursday 6 May 2010
By Colin Smith

A new hub for excellence in nuclear science and engineering research and training opened this week at Imperial College London.

Imperial and Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, opened the Rolls-Royce Nuclear University Technology Centre (UTC), which is dedicated to research and training in nuclear technology. The UTC will develop the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers who will help to secure the UK’s long-term energy needs.

The Centre will provide a focal point for academics from the Faculty of Engineering and Rolls-Royce to further research both in nuclear civil power and submarines. They will focus research in a range of areas including improving fuel performance, so that reactors can run more efficiently, and developing better methods for monitoring the performance of nuclear reactors, which are constantly subjected to harsh conditions such as radiation and extreme temperatures.

Students at Imperial will also benefit from the creation of the UTC, which will help them to prepare for the nuclear industry before they embark on their careers. The Centre will act as a conduit for students interested in a career in the nuclear industry, giving them better access to experts, industrial facilities and summer placements at Rolls-Royce. Professor Stephen Richardson, Principal of the Faculty of Engineering and Deputy Rector of the College, said:

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“Imperial has a long tradition of nuclear engineering research and teaching in close partnership with Rolls-Royce. The establishment of the UTC in nuclear technology is a natural extension of this important partnership. The new Centre will establish more links with Rolls so that our students, who are the next generation of nuclear engineers, can get better access to valuable industry training and expertise, which is so vital in getting students ready for the needs of business when they graduate. The UTC will also provide a new hub - a focal point – for academics and Rolls-Royce staff to collaborate on new research in nuclear engineering projects, further strengthening the UK’s capability in this field.”

Mr Colin Smith added: “We are delighted to collaborate with them to ensure Rolls-Royce continues to be uniquely placed to deliver world-class engineering and manufacturing capability to support the delivery of nuclear power programmes both here and around the world.”

In the video (above), Professor Robin Grimes, Director of the UTC from the Department of Materials, talks about the importance of the nuclear industry in securing the UK energy needs for the future. He also talks about the significance of the UTC for nuclear research and training of the next generation of nuclear engineers.

The UTC was opened by Professor Sir Keith O’Nions, Rector of Imperial, and Mr Colin Smith, Director of Engineering and Technology at Rolls-Royce, at 170 Queen’s Gate on the College’s South Kensington Campus.

The Centre will be based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, drawing on the expertise of academics from across the Faculty including the Departments of Materials, Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Earth Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.