Thermodynamics in Nuclear Power Plant Systems (PDF)

as Intel, Varian, and National Semiconductor corporations. Later on, he joined Lockheed Missile and Aerospace Corporation as Senior Chief Scientist. At this position, he was responsible for Senior in R&D and the study of vulnerability, survivability and both radiation and laser hardening of different components of payload (i.e. IR Sensor) for Defense Support Program (DSP), Boost Surveillance and Tracking Satellite (BSTS) and Space Surveillance and Tracking Satellite (SSTS) against laser or nuclear threat. While in there, he also studied and performed the analysis of characteristics of laser beam and nuclear radiation interaction with materials, Transient Radiation Effects in Electronics (TREE), Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), System Generated Electromagnetic Pulse (SGEMP), Single-Event Upset (SEU), Blast and, Thermo-mechanical, hardness assurance, maintenance, device technology.

He did few years of consulting under his company Galaxy Advanced Engineering with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), where he was supporting development of operational hazard assessments for the Air Force Safety Center (AFSC) in connection with other interest parties. Intended use of the results was their eventual inclusion in Air Force Instructions (AFIs) specifically issued for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) operational safety. He completed the first version of a comprehensive library of detailed laser tools for Airborne Laser (ABL), Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL), Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL), Mobile/Tactical High Energy Laser (M-THEL), etc.

He also was responsible on SDI computer programs involved with Battle Management C3I and artificial Intelligent, and autonomous system. He is author few publications and holds various patents such as Laser Activated Radioactive Decay and Results of Thru-Bulkhead Initiation.

Recently he has published two other books with CRC and Francis Taylor on the subject of;



1. HeatPipe Design and Technology: A Practical Approach

2. Dimensional Analysis and Self-Similarity Methods

3. Directed Energy Weapons Technologies


Dr. Patrick McDaniel is currently adjunct and research professor at Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico. Patrick began his career as a pilot and maintenance officer in the USAF. After leaving the Air Force and obtaining his doctorate at Purdue University, he worked at Sandia National Laboratories in fast reactor safety, integral cross section measurements, nuclear weapons vulnerability, space nuclear power, and nuclear propulsion. He left Sandia to become the technical leader for Phillips Laboratory's (became part of Air Force Research Laboratory) Satellite Assessment Center. After 10 years at PL/AFRL, he returned to Sandia to lead and manage DARPA's Stimulated Isomer Energy Release project, a $10M per year effort. While at Sandia, he worked on the Yucca Mountain Project and DARPA's classified UER-X program. Having taught at the University of New Mexico in the Graduate Nuclear engineering program for 25 years, when he retired from Sandia in early 2009, he joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico full time. He has worked on multiple classified and unclassified projects in the application of nuclear engineering to high energy systems. Dr. McDaniel holds PhD in nuclear engineering from Purdue University.