Physics of nuclear reactors
Summary
In this course, one acquires an understanding of the basic neutronics interactions occurring in a nuclear fission reactor as well as the conditions for establishing and controlling a nuclear chain reaction.
Content
- Brief review of nuclear physics
- Historical: Constitution of the nucleus and discovery of the neutron
- Nuclear reactions and radioactivity
- Cross sections
- Differences between fusion and fission. - Nuclear fission
- Characteristics - Nuclear fuel - Introductory elements of neutronics.
- Fissile and fertile materials.
- Element of reactor design
- flux and heat source distribution; properties of different coolants and technological consequences - LWR reactors technology
- overview of the functional scheme of PWR and BWRs; fuel elements; compensation of excess reactivity in PWRs and BWRs (boron, etc,)
- Neutron diffusion and slowing down
- Monoenergetic neutrons - Angular and scalar flux
- Diffusion theory as simplified case of transport theory - Neutron slowing down through elastic scattering. - Multiplying media (reactors)
- Multiplication factors - Criticality condition in simple cases.
- Thermal reactors - Neutron spectra - Multizone reactors - Multigroup theory and general criticality condition - Heterogeneous reactors. - Reactor kinetics
- Point reactor model: prompt and delayed transients - Practical applications. - Reactivity variations and control
- Short, medium and long term reactivity changes. Different means of control. - Advanced reactor designs
- Breeding and transmutation; introduction into Gen-IV reactors
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Elaborate on neutron diffusion equation
- Formulate approximations to solving the diffusion equation for simple systems
- Classify nuclear reaction cross sections
- Develop for a nuclear reactor
Transversal skills
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
- Collect data.
- Use both general and domain specific IT resources and tools
- Write a scientific or technical report.
Teaching methods
Lectures, numerical exercises
Assessment methods
oral exam (50%)
group project (50%)
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Oral (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Physics of nuclear reactors
- Cours: 4 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
Semaine de référence
| Lu | Ma | Me | Je | Ve | |
| 8-9 | |||||
| 9-10 | |||||
| 10-11 | |||||
| 11-12 | |||||
| 12-13 | |||||
| 13-14 | |||||
| 14-15 | |||||
| 15-16 | |||||
| 16-17 | |||||
| 17-18 | |||||
| 18-19 | |||||
| 19-20 | |||||
| 20-21 | |||||
| 21-22 |
Légendes:
Cours
Exercice, TP
Projet, autre