31401 - Fundamentals and Applications of Nuclear Engineering

Learning outcomes

1. Introduction to nuclear physics and neutron induced nuclear reactions: stability and binding energy, cross sections, nuclear fission, neutron capture, elastic and anelastic scattering.
2. Fission chain reaction: criticality, effective multiplication constant, delayed neutrons, nuclear reactors classification by spectrum and coolant.
3. Neutron diffusion theory: derivation and applicability, boundary and interface conditions, solution for nonmultiplying media, migration length, bare homogeneous reactors, reflectors, cross sections homogeneization, control rods.
4. Neutron spectrum: infinite medium spectrum, multigroup method for infinite medium, introduction to resonance absorption and treatment, multigroup diffusion.
5. Reactor kinetics: delayed neutrons, point-kinetics, reactivity coefficients.
6. Fuel burnup: fuel composition changes, Samarium and Xenon effects, breeding, fuel reprocessing, nuclear waste.
7. Nuclear reactors: PWR, BWR, HWR, GCR, LMFBR, III and IV generation reactors, general design approach.
8. Nuclear reactors safety.
9. Nuclear fusion: fusion reactions, power balance in a fusion reactor.
10. Plasma physics: basic concepts, single particle motion, coulomb interactions, two-fluids model, MHD equations, MHD equilibrium, fusion reactors technologies.

Course contents

B. Montagnini - Lezioni di Fisica del Reattore Nucleare - Università di Pisa, 1983 (disponibile su AMS Campus)

J.R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, Addison-Wesley, 1966

Weston M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, WILEY-VCH, 2007

M. Cumo, Impianti Nucleari, Università La Sapienza, 2012

Jeffrey P. Freidberg, Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy, Cambridge University Press, 2007

Readings/Bibliography

B. Montagnini - Lezioni di Fisica del Reattore Nucleare - Università di Pisa, 1983 (disponibile su AMS Campus)

J.R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, Addison-Wesley, 1966

Weston M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, WILEY-VCH, 2007

M. Cumo, Impianti Nucleari, Università La Sapienza, 2012

Jeffrey P. Freidberg, Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy, Cambridge University Press, 2007

Teaching methods

Teaching in classroom, use of simple didactic MATLAB codes.

Assessment methods

Oral examination on theory, technologies and exercises.

Teaching tools

Material available on IOL

Office hours

See the website of Emanuele Ghedini