Reactor operator

The reactor operator ( in Switzerland: reactor operator ) is a professional in a nuclear power plant.

The workplace of a reactor driver is the control room monitors from there and he controls all processes in the nuclear part of the power plant, for example, the position of the control rods. His counterpart is the control room operator who is responsible for the non- nuclear part.

Education in Germany

The training lasts three to four years. It includes mandatory participation in a training course at a power plant simulator is in Germany an in Essen- Kupferdreh, in Switzerland at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Austria and the nuclear power plant Zwentendorf. Even after completion of the training are constant developments of duty. A reactor operator with many years of professional experience can be promoted to shift supervisor. He then has the responsibility for the entire system. In the colloquial language of the shift supervisor is often equated with the power plant director, which is not correct but, because the latter rather commercial performs activities.

In rare cases, reactor operators are also used for monitoring of Castor transports.

Education in Switzerland

Budding reactor operators are trained in the reactor school the Paul Scherrer Institute. In the Reactor School is a higher technical school, so a, albeit very specific, technical school. The duration of training varies depending on educational background.

The technician course lasts 59 weeks and is divided into two semesters.

The training also includes plant-specific shares, which it applies only to the respective power plant.

Training opportunities

• Layer chief
• On-call engineers

Trivia

In disaster movies reactor operators often play an important role, for example in residual risk (film).

See also

• Kraftwerker