Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
3 credits
Q1
Language
English
Prerequisites
Students are supposed to have a solid knowledge in basis engineering sciences such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, material science etc. (Level of electro-mechanical university graduated engineers is optimal.
Aims
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
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The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
- Elementary aspects (first acquaintance) with practical nuclear physics and interaction of radiation with matter.
- Birds-eye view of nuclear power generation: principle of generating electricity by nuclear means (fission; chain reaction; heat transfer to coolant; turbine; alternator); fissile & fertile materials; burn up; production of fission products; breeding; current types of power plants (PWR, BWR,'); future types of power plants (LWR-type, gas cooled, ADS, '); introduction to the fuel cycle; front end, back end; introduction to safety aspects of nuclear reactors (criticality; core melt); engineered safety systems; risk; difference with research reactors & fusion reactors; proliferation issues & safeguards
- Economics of nuclear power generation: cost of nuclear kWh; investment costs of new types NPP's; construction time; decommissioning costs; internalisation of waste management; external costs
- Compatibility of nuclear power generation with sustainable development. Public perception & communication (media, general public, public authorities).
Evaluation methods
Open book preparation of two or three (generally overview) questions. Students can take notes during the 30 min preparation. Students will then be interrogated orally (whereby they can use the just made notes if they wish) to check whether they have thoroughly understood the study material. Questions are oriented towards understanding and insight; marks are given for the performance during the oral examination (lasting 30 mins); not for the written preparation.
Faculty or entity
EPL
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Advanced Master in Nuclear Engineering
