W. David Pointer

Bio

W. David Pointer leads the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  More than 80 years ago, nuclear energy found a home in the valleys of East Tennessee and never left. Today, the innovative experts of ORNL work to translate the latest scientific discoveries into market-ready technologies that power our lives here on earth and fuel our exploration of our universe.

Dr. Pointer is a recognized expert in the thermal hydraulics and safety of both conventional and advanced nuclear energy systems. He has extensive experience in the application, validation and development of computational fluid dynamics software as well as a strong background in experimental fluid dynamics methods for nuclear energy system and component design and licensing. Dr. Pointer has contributed to a wide variety of technical initiatives including: 

• The development of integrated multi-physics simulation toolsets for advanced reactor design and safety analysis which leverage high performance computing to provide unprecedented predictive power and precision. 
• The development and calibration of CFD-based simulation capabilities for boiling flows to support industry application to current fuel performance issues.
• The development and execution of advanced separate effects experiments to support the design of advanced reactor concepts, including VHTR and SFR systems. 
• The design and execution of dual use experiments that address physics questions related to specific reactor design features and provide opportunities for validation of higher fidelity methods.
• The identification and prioritization of phenomena occurring in postulated events in advanced reactor designs, including VHTR and SFR concepts.
• The application of CFD methods to a variety of engineering problems in the areas of power generation, energy efficiency and transportation.

Awards

2014 American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division Best Paper Award

2012 American Nuclear Society Landis Young Member Engineering Achievement Award in recognition of an outstanding young career, exceptional technical achievements and excellence in leadership to support development of next generation simulation tools on high-performance computing platforms.

2011 Argonne National Laboratory 10-year Service Award

2009 International Conference on Fast Reactors (FR09) Best Young Professional Paper Award

2007 American Nuclear Society Young Member Excellence Award

2007 Argonne National Laboratory Pacesetter Award in recognition of work to benchmark/validate computational fluid dynamics simulations of 2-phase boiling flows using an extended boiling framework

2003 Argonne National Laboratory Pacesetter Award in recognition of work on external aerodynamic simulations for tractor-trailer vehicles

Education

2001 | PhD Nuclear Engineering | University of Tennessee, Knoxville

1999 | MS Nuclear Engineering | University of Tennessee, Knoxville

1997 | BS Nuclear Engineering | University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Professional Service

2024 General Chair, International Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics

2017-2020 Elected At-Large Member, American Nuclear Society Board of Directors

2018-2019 Chair, American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division

2017-2018 Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division

2016-2017 Secretary, American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division

2015-2016 Treasurer, American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division

2012-2015, Executive Committee, American Nuclear Society Thermal Hydraulics Division

2007-2010 Executive Committee Member, American Nuclear Society Education, Training and Workforce Development Division

2007-2009, Chair, American Nuclear Society Chicago Local Section 

2006, President, North American Young Generation in Nuclear

2005 Chair, American Nuclear Society Young Members Group

2005 Vice President, North American Young Generation in Nuclear

2003-2005 Communications Chair, North American Young Generation in Nuclear.

Professional Affiliations

Member, American Nuclear Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Tau Beta Pi

Publications