Dr. Raymond Cao
Dr. Raymond Cao is a Professor and program chair of the Nuclear Engineering Program at The Ohio State University (OSU) and is also the Director of the OSU Nuclear Reactor Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. degree in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Cao has 200+ publications and holds 33 patents in the area of radiation sensor, nuclear instrumenting, and neutron methods. He serves as Senior Editor for IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science and previously served as Chair of the American Nuclear Society Isotopes and Radiation Division (2015–2016). He was appointed as member of Ohio Nuclear Development Authority by Ohio Governor in 2024. Dr. Cao also consults for AwareAbility Technologies and Hadron Energy on advanced nuclear technologies.
Abstracts
Lecture: Fundamental Reactor Physics: Kinetics, Feedback Mechanisms, and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle. (Prof. Cao/Quinnan)
(to be defined)
Lecture: Evolution of Nuclear Fission Technology: From Gen II to Gen III+ and Gen IV and SMR
Commercial nuclear fission technology has evolved significantly from Generation II light water reactors, which established the foundation of today’s nuclear power fleet, to Generation III and III+ systems with enhanced passive safety, improved fuel performance, and extended operational lifetimes. Today, nuclear reactor is entering a new phase driven by the growing power demand from large-scale computing and the AI boom. Advanced Generation IV reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being developed worldwide with emphasis on enhanced safety, simplified design, alternative coolants, and flexible deployment. This talk will provide an overview of the evolution of nuclear fission technology from Gen II systems to modern Gen III+, Gen IV, and SMR concepts, including topics such as molten salt reactors, sodium fast reactors, HALEU fuel, and microreactors.
Lecture: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro-reactor: Design, Deployment, and Flexibility for Developing Grids.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and microreactors represent a new generation of nuclear energy systems designed for enhanced safety, simplified construction, modular manufacturing, and reduced upfront capital cost compared with conventional large nuclear power plants. These reactors are being developed to support a wide range of applications, including electricity generation, industrial heat, remote power supply, military installations, and data centers driven by the rapid growth of AI computing.
Unlike traditional large reactors, SMRs and microreactors can be deployed incrementally and adapted to smaller or developing electrical grids where large baseload plants may not be practival. This talk will provide an overview of SMR and microreactor techonologies and their potential role in improving grid flexibility, energy resilience, and clean energy access for developing and emerging energy systems.