Dr. Erich Schneider

Last modified by

Dr. Erich Schneider
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Cornell University

Office: (512) 232-5412 / Cell (607)227-1414
Fax: (512) 471-4589
E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr. Schneider specializes in nuclear systems engineering and researches nuclear reactor technologies, nuclear fuel, and the sustainability of nuclear power. He focuses on computational modeling and simulation of nuclear systems. He models the transport of neutrons and other subatomic particles to study the performance of nuclear fuel in very intense radiation fields such the next generation of nuclear reactors. Schneider also uses particle physics transport modeling in a NASA-sponsored project to study the interactions of heavy ions from solar radiation with microelectronic satellite components. This research will help in designing robust, radiation-hardened electronics for extended duration space travel. In addition, Schneider is interested in anti-proliferation measures in the civilian nuclear power industry. In collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he is developing a model to assess the effectiveness of proliferation countermeasures in gas centrifuge enrichment facilities.

Research Interests:

• nuclear reactor physics
• radiation transport modeling
• nuclear fuel cycle simulation
• optimization, proliferation countermeasures

PUBLICATIONS:
Articles and Reviewed Proceedings:

Schneider, E. A. and W. Sailor, “Next Generation Nuclear Fission,” accepted to Science and Global Security (2006).

Schneider, E. A., Deinert, M. R. and K. B. Cady, “A Computationally Simple Model for Determining the Time Dependent Spectral Neutron Flux in a Nuclear Reactor Core,” J. Nuclear Materials, in press (2006).

Schneider, E. A., Bathke, C. G. and M. R. James, “NFCSim: A Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulation Tool and Criticality Engine,” Nuclear Technology, 151(1), July (2005); invited contribution.

Salvatores, M., Groullier, J. P., Schneider, E. A., Schwenk-Ferrero, A., Wiese, H-W., Knebel, J. and M. Delpech, “Partitioning and Transmutation Potential for Waste Minimization in a Regional Context,” in Proc. 8th International Information Exchange Meeting on Partitioning and Transmutation, Las Vegas, NV, November (2004).

Greening, L. A. and E. A. Schneider, “The US Spent Nuclear Fuel Legacy and the Sustainability of Nuclear Power,” International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) Newsletter, Fall (2003).

Schneider, E. A., Bathke, C. G. and K. O. Pasamehmetoglu, “The Role of Accelerator Driven Systems in Sustainable Nuclear Futures,” in Proc. International Workshop on P&T and ADS Development, InWor 2003, Mol, Belgium, October 5-8 (2003).

Ortega, R.F, Schneider, E.A. and K. B. Cady, “ORCA: A Model for the Economic Analysis of Nuclear Fuel Recycling in Light Water Reactors”, Mexico Nuclear, 2(2), 37, (2001).

Schneider, E. A. and L. A. Greening, “Preserving the Nuclear Infrastructure Under Constrained Waste Disposal Criteria,” invited contribution to J. Critical Infrastructure, in preparation.

Deinert, M. R., Schneider, E. A. and K. B. Cady, “Rethinking the Economics of Reprocessing Spent Nuclear Fuel,” submitted to Naturwissenschaften (2006).

Schneider, E. A., Deinert, M. R. and K. B. Cady, “Burnup simulations and spent fuel characteristics of ZrO2 based inert matrix fuels,” J. Nuclear Materials, under review (2006).

PROCEEDINGS:

Schneider, E. A., Deinert, M. R. and K. B. Cady, “Burnup Simulations of an Inert Matrix Fuel Using a Two Region, Multigroup Reactor Physics Model,” to appear in Proc. PHYSOR 2006: Am. Nucl. Soc. Topical Meeting on Reactor Physics, Vancouver, BC, September (2006).

Landsberger, S., Biegalski, S. and E. Schneider, “The Pipeline of Graduate Students To The National Laboratories,” to appear in Proc. Am. Soc. Engr. Educ. (ASEE) 2006 Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June (2006).

Schneider, E. A., Barratt, J. G., Cady, K. B. and M. R. Deinert, “An Intuition-Building Tool for Visualization of Reactor Spectral and Burnup Calculations,” in Proc. Am. Soc. Engr. Educ. (ASEE) 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, OR, June (2005).

Piet, S., Dixon, B., Hill, R., Schneider, E., Shropshire, D., Smith, J.D. and R. Wigeland, “Objectives, Strategies and Challenges for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative,” in Proc. Amer. Inst. Chem. Engr. 2005 Spring Meeting, Atlanta, GA, April (2005).

Yacout, A. M., Hill, R. N., Van Den Durpel, L., Finck, P., Schneider, E. A., Bathke, C. G. and S. Herring, “Dynamic Analysis of the AFCI Scenarios,” in Proc. of The Physics of Advanced Fuel Cycles and Nuclear Systems, PHYSOR 2004, Chicago, IL, April (2004).

Schneider, E. A. and C. G. Bathke, “Transient Simulation of Light Water Reactor Recycle Strategies in the United States,” in Proc. International Conference on Future Nuclear Systems, GLOBAL 2003, New Orleans, LA, November 16-18 (2003).

Bathke, C. G., DeMuth, S., James, M. R. and E. A. Schneider, “NFCSim: a Dynamic Simulation Model of the Nuclear Economy,” in Proc. Advances in Nuclear Fuel Management III, ANFM III, Hilton Head, SC, October 6-8 (2003).

Schneider, E. A. and M. R. James, “LACE: the NFCSim Criticality and Burnup Engine,” in Proc. Advances in Nuclear Fuel Management III, ANFM III, Hilton Head, SC, October 6-8 (2003).

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS:
Invited:

E. A. Schneider and C. G. Bathke, “The Effect of Nuclear Data Uncertainties on Fuel Cycle Outcomes,” invited presentation at special session “Quantifying and Integrating Performance Measures for Advanced Fuel Cycle Development,” Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 92, San Diego, CA, June (2005).

Schneider, E. A., “Integrated Reactor Physics and Broad Nuclear Systems Modeling Capabilities at Los Alamos,” presented at Nuclear Safety Research Program seminar, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK), Karlsruhe, Germany, March 12 (2004).

Schneider, E. A., “What Role Can Accelerator Driven Systems Play in Future Nuclear Systems?” Presentation to C. Birraux and C. Battaile, Members of French Chamber of Deputies, Los Alamos, NM, April 23 (2004).

Greening, L. A. and E. A. Schneider, “Advanced Fuel Cycles and the Sustainability of Nuclear Power,” Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, October 29 (2003).

Schneider, E. A., “Next Generation Nuclear Fuel Cycles,” Aspen Global Change Institute, Aspen, CO, July 7-11 (2003).

OTHER:

Schneider, E. A., James, M. R., Pitcher, E. and G. Muehrer, “Neutronic Performance of the AFCI Materials Test Station,” presented at Nuclear Fuels and Structural Materials for the Next Generation Nuclear Reactors, Reno, NV, June (2006).

Speaker, D. E., Hill, T. N. and E. A. Schneider, “Spallation Target Moderator Materials for the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, presented at Am. Nucl. Soc. 2006 Annual Mtg., Reno, NV, June (2006).

E. A. Schneider, “A Survey of Uranium Supply Curve Estimates,” Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 92, San Diego, CA, June (2005).

Wood, R., Bergmann, B., Cappiello, M., James, M., Maloy, S., Pitcher, E., Schneider, E. and H. Trellue, “The Fuels and Materials Test Station for the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center,” presented at International Conference on Advanced Neutron Science (ICANS) XVII, Santa Fe, NM, April (2005).

Greening, L. A. and E. A. Schneider, “The Pathway to a Hydrogen Economy: What Path to Follow?” presented at 24th IAEE North American Conference, Washington, DC, July 8-10 (2004).

J. G. Barratt and E. A. Schneider, “Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis of a Transmuting Fuel Cycle,” Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 90, Pittsburgh, PA, June (2004).

Greening, L. A. and E. A. Schneider, “The Spent Fuel Legacy and the Future of Nuclear Power,” presented at Western Economic Association 87th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, July 16-20 (2003).

Greening, L. A. and E. A. Schneider, “The US Spent Fuel Legacy and the Sustainability of Nuclear Power”, presented at IAEE 23rd North American Conference, Mexico City, Mexico, October 20-22 (2003).

Cady, K.B., Guais, J.C., Schneider, E.A. and R. F. Ortega, “ORCA: Economic Analysis of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle”, Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 83, Washington, DC, November (2000).

Schneider, E.A. and K. B. Cady, “Economic Modeling of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle”, presented at Gordon Research Conference: Nuclear Waste and Energy, Newport RI, August 5-9 (1998).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/SKILLS
• Member, American Nuclear Society and American Society for Engineering Education
• Participant, Energy Modeling Forum (EMF) Working Group
• Member, Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative Systems and Transmutation Physics Working Groups
• Extensive programming experience in FORTRAN 77, C / C++, Java, Matlab
• Proficient in use of MCNPX, ORIGEN2, RELAP5 code packages
• Top Secret (‘Q’) DOE clearance
• Proficient in German