John T. Siphers

Cary, NC, USA

John T. Siphers is a consultant specializing in Reload Core Design Process at NAC International.
Through his 40-year career, Mr. Siphers has demonstrated comprehensive expertise in utility nuclear fuel engineering, including fuel and core design, reactor core operation, fuel procurement, fuel reliability, fuel engineering processes and procedures and nuclear fuel management.

Mr. Siphers most recently served as General Manager of Nuclear Fuel Design at Duke Energy, managing engineering groups charged with design and analysis of the company’s eleven reactor cores. This work included operational support and oversight of reactor engineering at six sites, as well as reload design work for Westinghouse, General Electric, and Babcock & Wilcox designed plants.

Prior to his work at Duke, Mr. Siphers was General Manager of Nuclear Fuel Engineering at Progress Energy, managing all aspects of nuclear fuel procurement, design, and storage for the Progress Energy reactors. At Progress Energy, Mr. Siphers also served as Director of Corporate Nuclear Oversight, managing the company’s corporate oversight groups and their associated duties, including corporate function audits and performance assessments. In previous positions at Progress Energy and its predecessor company Carolina Power & Light, Mr. Siphers held a variety of supervisory and engineering positions that enriched his expertise in fuel design, procurement, core design and support, and vendor oversight and surveillance.

Following his retirement from Duke Energy, Mr. Siphers has consulted with Talen Energy regarding fuel design transition at the Susquehanna Nuclear Plant, and with Duke Energy regarding fuel performance at the Brunswick Plant.

Mr. Siphers holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from North Carolina State University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He is registered professional engineer in North Carolina.

Areas of Expertise

• Compatibility and mixed core evaluations
• Contract development
• Core components design, materials, and performance
• Core design
• Cycle economics and fuel costs
• Fuel cycle design
• Fuel department staffing and organization assessments
• Fuel Design & Manufacture
• Fuel design change reviews
• Fuel fabrication procurement
• Fuel handling, core loading, and operational support
• Fuel Management
• Fuel manufacturing technical oversight
• Fuel performance and reliability
• Manufacturing quality surveillance (QS)
• New fuel design reviews / LTA's / Accident Tolerant Fuel
• Operation & Performance
• Poolside inspections and failure cause determination
• QA program audits
• QA program implementing procedures
• RCS coolant activity analysis (failed fuel assessments)
• RFP and bid evaluations