Nuclear energy : introduction

Duration

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

Number of credits

Lecturer

N...

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

• 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).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

• 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.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

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

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

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

Recommended or required readings

• 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)

Assessment methods and criteria

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.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

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