31401 - Fundamentals and Applications of Nuclear Energy T

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the basic notions of understanding nuclear phenomena and their use for the production of energy through fission and fusion. The course also aims to provide students with an introduction to the industrial use of nuclear energy and its role in the international energy scenario. Upon completing the course, students will be able to: i) describe the primary physical and engineering factors that influence the selection of technological solutions for nuclear reactors; ii) analyse the key attributes of nuclear fuel and its lifecycle, including aspects related to its production, use, and disposal; iii) understand the basics of the economics of nuclear power and perform simplified calculations on the costs of producing nuclear electricity.

Course contents

1. Nuclear energy history: from the discovery of X rays to the present.
2. Energy: forces and energy; units of measure; thermal energy; radiant energy; the equivalence of matter and energy.
3. Atoms and nuclei: atomic theory; gases; the atom and light; nuclear structure; sizes and masses of nuclei; binding energy; KAERI tabl of nuclides.
4. Radioactivity: nuclear stability; radioactive decay; the decay law; radioactive chains.
5. Nuclear processes: transmutation of elements; conservation of energy and momentum; reaction rates; particle attenuation; neutron cross-sections; neutron migration.
6. Fusion: fusion reactions; electrostatic and nuclear forces; thermonuclear reactions in a plasma; Lawson criterion; amplification factor.
7. Fission: the fission process; energy considerations; byproducts of fission; energy from nuclear fuels.
8. Neutron chain reactions: criticality and multiplication; multiplication factors; fast reactor criticality; thermal reactor criticality; four-factor formula parameters; neutron flux and reactor power.
9. Nuclear power plants: reactor classification; steam generation and electrical power production; waste heat rejection; light water reactors (Pressurized Water Reactors e Boiling Water Reactors); heavy water reactors (CANDU); Generation III(+) reactors; Small Modular Reactors; generation IV reactors; power plant economics.
10. Nuclear heat energy: fuel element conduction and convection; temperature distributions through a reactor.
11. Reactor theory introduction: the diffusion equation; diffusion equation solutions.
12. Introduction to the time dependent reactor behaviour: neutron population growth; reactor kinetics; reactivity feedback; reactor control; fission product poisons; fuel burnup.
13. Reactor safety and security: safety considerations and assurance of safety; philosophy of safety in the nuclear sector; classification of safety systems; emergency core cooling and containment; notable accidents.
14. Nuclear fuel cycle: the nuclear fuel cycle; Uranium enrichment; waste classification; decay heat, transportation, storage and reprocessing of spent fuel; low-level waste generation, treatment, and disposal; Deposito Nazionale; introduction to the IAEA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulation System.
    
15. Nuclear propulsion and remote power: reactors for naval propulsion; space reactors; radioisotopic power.

Readings/Bibliography

Raymond Murray, Keith E. Holbert; Nuclear Energy : An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes; 2020; ISBN: 978-0-12-812881-7

The texbook is available online through the UNIBO Library System.

Teaching methods

Lectures, guided exercises

Assessment methods

Written test with numerical exercises and open questions on nuclear technologies. The use of a calculator is permitted in the test; Students are permitted to bring and consult one double-sided A4 sheet of paper, freely printed/written by the Candidate.

Teaching tools

Lecture notes

Problem sets with solutions.

Problem sets with targets.

Official databases (e.g. KAERI table of nuclides ; IAEA Power Reactor Information System).

MATLAB codes and softwares (e.g. IAEA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulation System).

Further information (optional): scientific articles, documents/reports produced by national and international agencies/bodies, detailed slides on the historical evolution of nuclear energy.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Gherardi