Ep 68: Dame Sue Ion - Fmr. Technical Director , British Nuclear Fuels

Published: Sept. 5, 2018, 1:16 a.m.

In this episode we discuss...

  • How Sue earned her title of “Dame” ---
  • Sue’s background in material science and personal evolution in the nuclear industry ---
  • A deep dive into the UK’s Magnox fuel elements ---
  • The history of nuclear in the UK including its advanced gas coal reactors and its high temperature reactor “Dragon” ---
  • The defamation characteristics and manufacturing routes of reactor clads and challenges Sue worked to resolve ---
  • Dry processes versus wet chemical processes ---
  • The economics and life cycles of waste and decommissioning in nuclear versus other industries ---
  • Modularity and its construction costs ---
  • Sue’s current work at BNFL engaging vendors with constructors