Advanced Nuclear Materials (Centre d'étude nucléaire-Mol)

Language

English

Prerequisites

The following BNEN course is a prerequisite

• Nuclear Materials

Main themes

The ex cathedra part of the course covers the following main topics:
* Functional requirements of materials in a nuclear environment (J. Lecomte-Beckers 1 ECTS)

• Nuclear materials: fuel, fuel cladding, moderator/reflector, coolant
• Structural materials: reactor internals and vessel, piping, valves

* Advanced treatment of irradiation effects in materials: radiation damage mechanisms at microscopic level (E. van Walle 1 ECTS)

* Corrosion problems in nuclear reactors: material behaviour and material requirements, technological aspects and environment-sensitive damage, with emphasis on light water reactors, in general, and steam generators, in particular  (W. Bogaerts 1 ECTS)


Some of these topics are further elaborated during seminars and visits to the SCK'CEN laboratories (incl. hot cells) (E. Van Walle)

* Basic measurements: source strength, neutron flux (activation analysis, neutron counting), neutron spectrum (time of flight methods, unfolding methods), reaction rates
* Activity, dose and cross-section measurement
* Measurement of neutron transport parameters: stationary methods, pulsed neutron experiments
* Measurement of reactivities (and reactivity coefficients): survey, static methods, dynamic measurements, inverse kineticsStatistical fluctuation method: reactor noise, mathematical analysis, applications (Rossi-alpha, sign correlations, zero crossings)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	To provide the students with advanced treatment of the corrosion and embrittlement degradation mechanisms of materials in nuclear environments.

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. Jacqueline Lecomte-Beckers ' Université de Liège
Prof. Eric van Walle ' Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Prof. Walter Bogaerts - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Online resources

https://www.sckcen.be/fbnen

Bibliography

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

Other useful references:

• Fontana, M.G., Corrosion Engineering, 3rd Ed., McGraw-Hill, 1986.
• Bogaerts, W.F., Active Library on Corrosion (CD-ROM), 2nd Ed., Elsevier, 1998.
• Benjamin, M., Nuclear Reactor Materials and Applications, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1983.
• Glasstone, S. & A. Sesonske, Nuclear Reactor Engineering, 4-th Ed, Vol 1, Chapman & Hall, New York, 1994  (Chapter 7: Reactor Materials, pp 406-462).
• Cahn, R.W., Haasen, P., Kramer, E.J., Materials Science and Technology, Volume 10 B, Volume editor Frost B.R.T. , Chapters 7-9

Faculty or entity

EPL