31401 - Fundamentals and Applications of Nuclear Energy T

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the basic notions of understanding nuclear phenomena and their use for the production of energy through fission and fusion. The course also aims to provide students with an introduction to the industrial use of nuclear energy and its role in the international energy scenario. Upon completing the course, students will be able to: i) describe the primary physical and engineering factors that influence the selection of technological solutions for nuclear reactors; ii) analyse the key attributes of nuclear fuel and its lifecycle, including aspects related to its production, use, and disposal; iii) understand the basics of the economics of nuclear power and perform simplified calculations on the costs of producing nuclear electricity.

Course contents

1. Nuclear energy history: from the discovery of X rays to the present.
2. Energy: forces and energy; units of measure; thermal energy; radiant energy; the equivalence of matter and energy.
3. Atoms and nuclei: atomic theory; gases; the atom and light; nuclear structure; sizes and masses of nuclei; binding energy; KAERI table of nuclides.
4. Radioactivity: nuclear stability; radioactive decay; the decay law; radioactive chains; NuDat database.
5. Nuclear processes: nuclear transmutation; conservation of energy and momentum; reaction rates; particle attenuation; neutron cross-sections; neutron migration; JANIS database.
6. Fusion: fusion reactions; electrostatic and nuclear forces; thermonuclear reactions in a plasma; Lawson criterion; amplification factor.
7. Fission: the fission process; energy considerations; byproducts of fission; energy from nuclear fuels; IAEA database.
8. Neutron chain reactions: criticality and multiplication; multiplication factors; fast reactor criticality; thermal reactor criticality; four-factor formula parameters; neutron flux and reactor power.
9. Nuclear power plants: reactor classification; steam generation and electrical power production; waste heat rejection; light water reactors (Pressurized Water Reactors e Boiling Water Reactors); heavy water reactors (CANDU); Generation III(+) reactors; Small Modular Reactors; generation IV reactors; power plant economics; PRIS database; Generation IV International Forum.
10. Nuclear heat energy: fuel element conduction and convection; temperature distributions through a reactor.
11. Reactor theory introduction: the one-speed diffusion equation; diffusion equation solutions.
12. Introduction to the time dependent reactor behaviour: neutron population growth; reactor kinetics; reactivity feedback; reactor control; fission product poisons; fuel burnup.
13. Reactor safety and security: safety considerations and assurance of safety; philosophy of safety in the nuclear sector; classification of safety systems; emergency core cooling and containment; notable accidents.
14. Nuclear fuel cycle: the nuclear fuel cycle; Uranium enrichment; waste classification; decay heat, transportation, storage and reprocessing of spent fuel; low-level waste generation, treatment, and disposal.
    
15. Nuclear propulsion and remote power: reactors for naval propulsion; space reactors; radioisotopic power.

For non-attending Students: no additions to the contents indicated are necessary.

Readings/Bibliography

Required reading (textbook): Raymond Murray, Keith E. Holbert; Nuclear Energy 8^th edition: An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes; 2020; ISBN: 978-0-12-812881-7

The texbook is available online through the UNIBO Library System; refer to the course guidelines, available in Virtuale, for indications.

Additional required materials: examples of problem sets with solutions, exercises with target solutions and examples of exam tests made available through the Virtuale

For non-attending Students: no additions to the required materials indicated in the previous points are necessary.

Further information (optional): scientific articles, documents/reports produced by national and international agencies/bodies, detailed slides on the historical evolution of nuclear energy.

Teaching methods

Classroom lessons: lectures, guided numerical exercises and case study solutions

For individual study: examples of problem sets with solutions, exercises with target solutions and examples of exam tests

Assessment methods

Written test with 8 numerical exercises and open questions on nuclear technologies, aimed at verifying i) understanding of the physical phenomena and engineering aspects covered during the course; ii) awareness of orders of magnitude and units of measurement characteristic of the nuclear energy sector; iii) the ability to carry out numerical calculations in relation to processes relating to nuclear engineering; iv) the ability to orient oneself among the available data, identifying those useful for the problems under consideration, and to analyze data provided according to the formats characteristic of the nuclear field.

The test presents 2 mandatory questions (numerical exercises) on the following topics: i) nuclear transmutation reactions and Q-value calculation; ii) radioactive decay and interpretation of NuDat graphs.

The scores associated with the questions add up to a total of 50 points: the test is considered passed with a score of 20/50 (outcome: 18/30) and the maximum score (30 cum laude) can be obtained by scoring at least 47/50.

The time available to the student for the written test is 4 hours.

The use of a calculator is permitted in the test; Students are permitted to bring and consult one double-sided A4 sheet of paper, freely compiled by the Candidate.

The assessment method is identical for attending and non-attending Students.

Teaching tools

Required reading (textbook).

Lecture notes (note: not a substitute for the reference text).

Problem sets with solutions.

Problem sets with targets.

Official databases (refer to the 'Content' section). 

Further information (optional): scientific articles, documents/reports produced by national and international agencies/bodies, detailed slides on the historical evolution of nuclear energy.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Gherardi