Mr.  Yasir Arafat
MARVEL Chief Designer and Project Lead
Nuclear Science & Technology
Idaho National Laboratory

Abstract

As the world moves toward a new paradigm for the low-carbon energy system, the role of nuclear energy is at a turning point, not just for large gigawatt-scale reactors but also for small, megawatt-scale decentralized generation systems called microreactors. As the Department of Energy’s nuclear energy R&D national laboratory, INL is taking a leadership role in designing and developing a novel test microreactor, called MARVEL, that will provide an operational microreactor to redefine the generation of clean electric power and high-grade heat for future integrated energy systems. The presentation will present the description and status of the MARVEL project, its importance as a nuclear prototype to enable new markets, its role to modernize nuclear research, and its potential to pave the way to a net-zero future.

Biography

Yasir Arafat is the chief designer and project lead for the Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) Project at Idaho National Laboratory and the national technical area lead for the US DOE Microreactor Program. Arafat has managed the execution of nuclear research and development projects at INL for the last three years. Before joining the national laboratory, he served ten years at Westinghouse in research and development. Arafat initiated the eVinci Microreactor Program, where he was responsible for the development and leading the overall design and development of the reactor. Arafat specializes in nuclear systems design comprising agile product development, model-based systems engineering, process engineering, qualification testing reactor safety basis, and licensing for existing nuclear power plants, the Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactor, and the Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor. He has been issued 12 patents for his inventions in advanced reactors.

In addition to his work at INL, Arafat is pursuing his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in Management at Harvard University. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Thursday, September 29. 2022
4:00 pm seminar

Hybrid Option  (Speaker is in person)

zoom (link upon request)
or
Room 1202 Burlington Labs