Need some feedback

[rs_nucl]

I would really appreciate it if some could read my SOP and provide some feedback. Do you think it is appropriate? I have had a few people read it (technical and non-technical) they thought it was good. I would really value a few more unbiased opinions. I can PM the SOP to those who are willing to help. Thanks.

[rs_nucl]

Guys I have submitted my application for the Spring session. Anyway, I have posted the SOP below and would really appreciate it if you could rate this work:

My motivation for pursuing graduate studies is to prepare myself to participate actively in improving the commercial viability of nuclear power. After growing up in India, a developing country, I appreciated the privilege of attaining my undergraduate education in the United States. This opportunity kindled in me a sense of responsibility to harness my talents to the fullest extent possible and produce tangible results. Historically, universities in the United States have played a pivotal role in the development of nuclear technology. Many of the design bases and analytical techniques that the nuclear industry employs today; stem from the work performed at universities and national laboratories. I am therefore certain, that an academic setting will be an optimal environment in which to augment my strengths, increase my knowledge, and allow me to begin addressing issues that I have identified over the course of my academic and professional career.

As an undergraduate, I elected to major in nuclear engineering for two reasons. First, the resurgence of nuclear power seemed likely, as an integral part of a cost-effective and sustainable energy solution. Secondly, I excelled in thermodynamics, and was excited by the industrial applications of theories being taught in the classroom. As I progressed through my undergraduate coursework, internships, and research projects, it was evident that nuclear power had many characteristics favorable for base-load electricity production. Consequently, upon graduating from college, I decided to join the nuclear energy component within General Electric in the capacity of a safety analysis engineer, with the hope to utilize my aptitude for thermal hydraulics to advance the technology.

The role of a safety analysis engineer provided me with experience working in a highly regulated environment, an understanding of state-of-the-art industry practices, and most importantly, presented practical opportunities to test my problem-solving abilities. The experience also allowed me to become aware of several factors that I believe will continue to impede the advancement of nuclear power in deregulated electricity markets. The most critical factors are as follows: 1) High capital costs associated with constructing licensed reactor designs; 2) Lack of experimental facilities to support the development of advanced reactor and fuel designs; 3) A regulatory framework that does not promote an environment for innovation; and 4) Diminishing technical expertise due to an aging workforce. However, many promising solutions to resolve each of these issues have been proposed, and preliminary results in academic literature suggest that none of the hurdles are insurmountable. My professional objectives focus on implementing and enhancing such solutions, which can overcome the above stated structural problems within the nuclear industry.

The successful transition from conventional base-load power generation systems to nuclear power systems is a multi-step process; achieving superior safety standards while ensuring high profit margins is essential throughout. Under current market conditions, the first step must involve leveraging the existing fleet of power plants by developing products attractive to utilities. One such product is Extended Power Uprate (EPU). At present, some nuclear power plants can be uprated to 20% higher power. It has been demonstrated, that with improvements in analytical methods, regulatory reform, and steady gains in experimental capability, existing plants can operate at up to 50% higher power. Large power uprates offer a practical solution: They increase generation capacity without incurring the risks involved in building new nuclear power plants. Furthermore, the crosscutting research required to implement such projects would greatly aid the design of advanced light water reactors and improve the commercial viability of constructing power plants in the future.

Several safety considerations limit the maximum potential for a power uprate, and, in general, the design of all reactors. The most severe are as follows: plant performance during accident conditions, critical heat flux or critical power during steady state conditions, core pressure drop at rated conditions, and the propensity for instability events. Research groups headed by Professors Kazimi and Todreas at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have investigated the feasibility of ultra-power uprates, and have proposed strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional fuel designs. The analytical results presented by Professor Todreas at the latest NURETH-13 conference provide evidence of the tremendous potential of hydride fuel designs. However, the impact of such fuel designs on the stability characteristics of Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) requires further evaluation, due to the significantly smaller time constant in metal fuels. In addition, an increase in power to flow ratio tends to ingress upon stability margins. Research in the area of BWR stability analysis, under the supervision of Professors Kazimi and Todreas, presents an excellent opportunity to gain a deep understanding of phenomena affecting the design of nuclear reactors and, simultaneously, to explore possibilities for improving the safety and economic characteristics of nuclear technology.

In recent years, several startups such as NUSCALE Power, Hyperion, and Terrapower, have proposed dramatically simple modular designs. Each of the proposed concepts push the boundaries of the regulatory framework, materials capabilities, and available analytical methods. Successful implementation of any of these concepts would allow nuclear power plants to break away from their conventional mold of being large and expensive base-load power generation systems. Paving the way for construction of modular plants, and nuclear-fueled cogeneration plants that could assuage concerns over the high initial capital costs associated with nuclear technology. In addition, these advanced reactor systems would allow deployment of nuclear power plants in countries or areas with small sized electricity grids.

The design, development and deployment of small scale modular nuclear reactor systems pose an exciting challenge. The M.S Program at MIT will provide me with the necessary preparation to face these challenges. First, MIT will provide me with graduate-level coursework in heat transfer, numerical computing, reactor physics, and fluid mechanics, which is imperative to the design and development of all nuclear power plants. Secondly, I will have opportunities to take part in research projects that are proactively investigating issues relevant to the sustainability of the nuclear industry. Finally, MIT’s multidisciplinary approach will help me analyze the implications of public policy on technological innovation.

After completing my graduate studies at MIT I hope to work as a design engineer, in an enterprise that is fully vested in the development of small scale modular designs. In the long term, I look forward, in my career, to collaborate with individuals such as policy makers, economists, and other technologists; and offer innovative technical solutions within the global nuclear industry while also serving as a resource during the decision-making process. Due to the aforementioned reasons I am confident that the nuclear engineering program at MIT will allow me to achieve these goals.

[omega]

Hi, I am going to apply MIT as well, but in a different field. I think your SOP is a little bit long, about 1000 words. I think cutting facts professors already knew and talking about yourself and connection to MIT is very necessary.

[rs_nucl]

Thanks.

Edited September 23, 2010 by rs_nucl