Nuclear energy : introduction

Durée

20h Th, 8h Pr, 10h Vis.

Nombre de crédits

Enseignant

N...

Langue(s) de l'unité d'enseignement

Langue anglaise

Organisation et évaluation

Enseignement au premier quadrimestre, examen en janvier

Horaire

Horaire en ligne

Unités d'enseignement prérequises et corequises

Les unités prérequises ou corequises sont présentées au sein de chaque programme

Contenus de l'unité d'enseignement

• Global energy issue: world energy needs (developing world), greenhouse effect,
  liberalisation of the energy markets, strategic independence of the EU.
• Environmental issues
• 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: European Utility Requirements; life time of existing NPP's; cost of nuclear kWh; investment costs of new types NPP's; construction time and licensing process; decommissioning costs; internalisation of waste management; external costs
• Public perception & communication (media, general public, public authorities).

Acquis d'apprentissage (objectifs d'apprentissage) de l'unité d'enseignement

• To place the world and the Belgian nuclear energy production in its economic, social, technical and cultural context
• To give a first overview of nuclear electricity generation and an overall introduction to reactor and plant engineering.

Savoirs et compétences prérequis

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.

REFERENCE BOOKS ON PREREQUISITE
See website www.sckcen.be/bnen Brochures and Info Background books W. D'haeseleer

Activités d'apprentissage prévues et méthodes d'enseignement

Mode d'enseignement (présentiel ; enseignement à distance)

• 1 t.m.
• It includes an introduction to SCK*CEN activities and a visit to SCK*CEN library.

Lectures recommandées ou obligatoires et notes de cours

• Textbook followed:
  John R. Lamarsh & Anthony J. Baratta, "Introduction to Nuclear Engineering"; 3-rd Ed., Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2001 (ISBN 0-201-82498-1)
• Other interesting books:
  Ronald Allen Knief, "Nuclear Engineering; Theory and Technology of Commercial Nucler Power"; 2-nd Ed., Taylor & Francis, Washington DC, 1992 (ISBN 1-56032-089-3) David Bodansky, "Nuclear Energy; Principles, Practices, and Prospects"; 2-nd Ed., Springer, Berlin/New York, 2004 (ISBN 0-387-20778-3)

Modalités d'évaluation et critères

Open book preparation of two or three (generally overview) questions. Students can take notes during the 30 min preparation. Using the just made notes, students will then be interrogated orally to check whether they have thoroughly understood the study material. Questions are oriented towards understanding and insight.

Stage(s)

Remarques organisationnelles

Contacts

Gert Van den Eynde: gert.van.den.eynde@sckcen.be