Marco Ricotti

Prof. Marco Ricotti is a Professor at Politecnico di Milano specializing in nuclear engineering with core expertise in Thermal Fluid Dynamics (modelling & experimental), Passive Safety Systems, and Economics of Nuclear Energy. His research directly impacts Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development, nuclear safety validation, and decommissioning technologies. As a key contributor to the Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Ricerca TEcnologica Nucleare (CIRTEN), he supports the Italian National Repository of radioactive waste and participates in European initiatives like the TANDEM Euratom project.

Ricotti's research program bridges fundamental thermal-hydraulic phenomena with practical nuclear applications. His work on passive safety systems includes experimental validation of decay heat removal mechanisms and two-phase flow behavior in compact heat exchangers. Economic analyses of SMRs, lead fast reactors, and hybrid energy systems form another critical pillar, addressing cost competitiveness and grid integration challenges. Recent efforts increasingly focus on nuclear decommissioning techniques for graphite-moderated reactors and space nuclear applications.

Analysis of Ricotti's 2024-2025 publications reveals concentrated SMR research across three interconnected domains: thermal-hydraulic safety validation (35% of output), economic viability studies (30%), and innovative applications like space reactors and decommissioning technologies (35%). His work consistently emphasizes experimental verification of passive safety systems while exploring synergies between nuclear and renewable energy in multipurpose systems for decarbonization.

No scientific awards were documented in the source material.

Information regarding student advising or specific research grants was not provided in available records.

Ricotti actively contributes to CIRTEN's mission supporting Italy's radioactive waste repository Technology Park, with emphasis on graphite decommissioning and thermal-hydraulic testing. His leadership in the TANDEM Euratom project shapes European SMR licensing frameworks, while collaborations with SIET laboratory advance suppression pool safety validation. Current efforts also integrate nuclear systems with phase-change materials for district heating and seawater desalination applications.