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Cover Story
Designing heat exchangers for
Heat exchangers might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about nuclear power, but they are crucial to its success. At Rolls- Royce SMR, Component Design Engineer Katrina
Bradley plays a key role in designing heat exchangers for Small
Modular Reactors( SMRs), a nextgeneration approach to nuclear energy that prioritizes efficiency, safety, and scalability. In this interview, Katrina shares insights into her career, the challenges of nuclear heat exchanger design, and the future of the industry.
Rolls-Royce small modular reactor facility. Photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce SMR.
By Iryna Mukha, Heat Exchanger World
Can you share a bit about your journey into heat exchanger design and what led you to specialize in this field?“ My degree is in chemical engineering, which I completed in 2018. I initially worked in lab roles, and ended up battery materials, which was an exciting but volatile field. At one point, the department I was in shut down, and I found myself looking for new opportunities. That’ s when I was introduced to a role in graphite heat exchanger design. It wasn’ t something I had considered before, but I found the complexity and precision of the work fascinating. The transition to Rolls- Royce SMR came naturally as I wanted to work on a larger scale with nuclear applications, which offered a new layer of challenges and learning opportunities.”
What does your day-to-day work as a Heat Exchanger Design Engineer involve?“ Currently, I work in the nuclear sector, specifically designing components for a new type of nuclear power plant— small modular reactors( SMRs). The aim is to create a modularised, scalable system that can all be slotted together – a bit like IKEA furniture. This is meant to simplify construction and enable faster build times while maintaining stringent safety and efficiency standards.”“ My day-to-day involves a significant amount of documentation due to the highly regulated nature of nuclear engineering. Each major design decision requires a robust technical report to ensure it complies with safety protocols and accounts for downstream impacts on the plant’ s operation and construction. Much of this means collaborating across different teams within the business.”“ From a technical perspective, my focus revolves around optimising heat exchangers. This includes critical tasks such as material selection, sizing to fit modular constraints, and ensuring compliance with the unique specifications of SMRs. The modular design presents a distinct challenge compared to traditional plants, where space and dimensions are less restricted.”
8 Heat Exchanger World April 2025 www. heat-exchanger-world. com