Nolan E Goth
R&D Staff Nuclear Engineer, Energy Systems Development Group, Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division
Bio
Dr. Nolan E. Goth is an R&D Staff Nuclear Engineer with the Energy Systems Development Group within the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His work centers on experimental and computational thermal-hydraulics for advanced fission reactors, isotope production, nuclear batteries, and cryogenic systems supporting neutron science. Dr. Goth has received recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy for innovations in nuclear technology R&D. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted him a Senior Reactor Operator License.
Dr. Goth's current research focus is on the following areas:
- Nuclear batteries
- Isotope production
- Molten salt technology demonstration
- Optical-based imaging measurements for flow visualization
- Large-scale conjugate heat transfer modeling using computational fluid dynamics
- Dynamic cryogenic systems modeling
Dr. Goth has experimental experience in (1) designing and analyzing molten salt, gas, and sodium flow loops, (2) testing nuclear-battery power systems, and (3) generating thermal-hydraulic code validation data. His computational expertise includes: (1) employing finite-volume, finite-element, and systems-level codes for conjugate heat transfer for terrestrial, maritime, and space applications, (2) designing irradiation targets for isotope production, and (3) modeling heat transfer and fluid flow in advanced fission reactors (molten-salt, gas, and sodium).
Before coming to ORNL, Nolan was a researcher at Texas A&M University and a nuclear engineer for the mPower SMR project with Babcock and Wilcox. Dr. Goth earned his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M, an M.S. in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M, and B.S. degrees in nuclear engineering and economics from Missouri S&T.
Professional Experience
- R&D Staff, Oak Ridge National Lab, 2024-Present
- R&D Associate, Oak Ridge National Lab, 2021-2024
- R&D Assistant, Oak Ridge National Lab, 2019-2021
- Graduate Researcher, Texas A&M, 2015-2018
- Operations Engineer, Babcock & Wilcox mPower SMR, 2013-2014
- Senior Reactor Operator and Training Instructor, Missouri S&T, 2010-2012
- AutoCAD Technician, Smith-Goth Engineers, Inc., 2006-2008
Awards
- 2021 - ORNL Inventor
- 2018 - US DOE Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D Award
- 2017 - First Place Poster, CASL Summer Institute
- 2011 - Senior Reactor Operator license
- 2008 - Bright Flight Scholar
Education
- Ph.D. Engineering, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M
- M.S. Engineering, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Texas A&M
- B.S. Engineering, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Missouri S&T
- B.A. Economics, Dept. of Economics, Missouri S&T
- Minor Mathematics, Dept. of Mathematics, Missouri S&T
Professional Service
- Reviewer, Nuclear Engineering and Design Journal, 2014-Present
- Reviewer, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 2020-Present
- Reviewer, Physics of Fluids, 2021-Present
- Reviewer, Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, 2021
- Reviewer, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2020
- Reviewer, Journal of Turbulence, 2020
- Session Chair, American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting, 2022
- Session Chair, American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting, 2016