Advanced Fuel Cycle/Dismantling/Radiochemistry/MOX/Th (Centre d'étude nucléaire-Mol)

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.

3 credits

Language

English

Prerequisites

The following BNEN courses are a prerequisite

Nuclear Energy: Introduction
Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Main themes

MOX and Th fuel

Comparison of the physical properties of Pu and Th
Possible core designs with Th based fuel with high conversion factors
Pu-MOX fuel fabrication (MIMAS process) and fuel rod thermal-mechanical behaviour under irradiation
Pu-MOX impact on reactivity coefficients and safety issues
Th-MOX impact on reactivity coefficients and overview of the possible safety issues

Radiochemistry

Applied radiochemistry (complementary to the course under "Nuclear Fuel cycle"): chemical process technology: radiochemical separation techniques, radiochemical analysis, production of radionuclides
Radionuclide migration through a clay host rock ' geochemistry and underlying phenomena: impact on the Safety Case; geochemistry in Boom Clay; role of organic matter; radionuclide speciation, sorption and transport; modelling.

Dismantling, decommissioning

Introduction: definitions, objectives, levels, regulatory aspects, radioprotection, ALARA
Radionuclide inventory, characterization and measurements
Strategy for decontamination of buildings, concrete pieces and structures, metals
Dismantling of a nuclear reactor (the BR3 case): the experience, materials management
Other types of installations to be decommissioned, REX from other projects
Strategies and planning of decommissioning

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

MOX and Th fuel
To get a global understanding of the utilization of Pu and Th based fuel in light water reactors:

The challenges of the U-Pu-MOX fuel regarding the fuel fabrication, the core and fuel neutronic aspects and fuel behaviour
The Th-Pu-MOX used in LWR for its breeding capabilities, or more realistically as matrix for Pu utilization.

Radiochemistry and Dismantling

To get an understanding of radiochemistry, as it is a basic discipline to understand the various stages and activities in the nuclear fuel cycle, including the safe disposal of the radioactive waste.
To get acquainted with the principles and practice of dismantling and decommissioining of nuclear materials, as this is becoming an activity of increasing importance in nuclear engineering.

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”.

Evaluation methods

Oral examination; written preparation

Other information

This course is part of the Advanced Master programme in nuclear engineering organized by the Belgian Nuclear Higher Education Network (BNEN). BNEN is organised through a consortium of six Belgian universities and the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK-CEN and takes place at the SCK-CEN in Mol.

Prof. Pierre Van Iseghem ' Université de Liège
Prof. Hubert Druenne ' Université de Liège

Online resources

https://www.sckcen.be/fbnen

Bibliography

The PowerPoint presentations of the lectures are available on the BNEN website.

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

GNUC2MC