NAYGN EP. 3-Uranium Fuel & Reactor Physics: How Nuclear Power Really Works (with Dr. Blair Bromley)
What actually happens inside a nuclear reactor core — and why do neutrons matter so much?
In this episode of the NAYGN Clean Energy Podcast, host Hung and co-host Aditi sit down with Dr. Blair Bromley, reactor physicist at Chalk River Laboratories, to unpack the fundamentals of reactor physics in plain language.
We explore:
How nuclear fission turns into electricity on the grid
What “reactor physics” (neutronics) really means
Why slowing down neutrons is essential to keeping reactors running
How fuel design and neutron economy shape reactor performance
Why CANDU reactors operate differently from most light-water reactors
The tradeoffs between fuel enrichment and uranium utilization
If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually happening inside a reactor core — beyond the headlines — this episode offers a rare, accessible look into the physics that power nuclear energy.