So, you've done 10 years in the NNPP and are ready to "go ashore" for the last time, but continue operating a nuclear plant. You've heard the banter on the Nukeworker site (et al), but you still have no clue about how commercial nuclear reactors work.
For those that enjoy diving right into the technical details, here's a publicly available resource for you. The infamous "Tech Specs":
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/techspecs/techspecs-pdf/wog-specs.pdfStart simple. What is the maximum reactor coolant system pressure limit for a Westinghouse PWR plant? As an licensed operator, what are your actions/obligations (by federal law)? Hint: Section 2.0. Extra credit: Why are the action time requirements more restrictive when the reactor coolant is not at N.O.T. (i.e., in lower "modes" of operation)?
Understanding exactly how the Tech. Specs work in terms of methodology and very precise (legal) definitions is critical to understanding and applying them. (Section 1.0)
Also, this is a good engineering textbook on the basics of Nuclear Engineering (e.g., 6-factor formula) without higher level math:
http://www.new.ans.org/store/i_350023/r_fYou can normally find one used somewhere (e.g., Amazon, Half.com, etc). While not a necessary "bedside reference", one may find it contains very similar content to the NRC GFES material.
Still bored? What is OTDT?
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7596198.htmlStop guessing how you think a Commercial Nuclear Plant works and do a little homework. Most Nukes love a good technical challenge anyway, so this should be second nature. As Broadzilla eludes to, the Commercial Industry does NOT spoon-feed and "self study" is an attribute critical for success.
Once you understand "chemical shimming" with boric acid, you'll have an idea of how vastly different commercial plants are designed. I don't participate in "Navy vs Commercial" designs...they have drastically different missions with very different designs. Each serves its purpose well. Meanwhile, doing some technical research on commercial nuclear operations may help you in exploring and searching for post-Navy nuclear operator jobs.
