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Research School of Physics · ANU College of Science and Medicine
Nuclear reactors provide 10% of global electricity generation and are used in a wide range of applications from defence to medical radioisotope production. A detailed understanding of reactor physics and an ability to simulate nuclear reactors is key to their reliable and safe operation. This course explores advanced topics relating to the physics, design and operation of nuclear reactors, and will introduce methods of simulating their properties and performance, including: - Analytic models for neutron transport in reactors - Multigroup transport theory - Time dependent reactors – startup and transient response - Nuclear data for reactor simulation - Resonance escape probabilities - Monte Carlo methods for neutron transport - Simulation of nuclear reactors and their components
Weekly problem sets
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
Reactor simulation project
Learning outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5
The course will include lectures and tutorials to introduce key concepts in nuclear reactor science and simulation (approximately 8 weeks) and an extended project giving more in-depth and hands-on experience in reactor simulations (4 weeks). The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester, including: - Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 2 hour lecture and 1 x 2 hour tutorials per week (approximately 32 hours across the semester) - Simulation workshops (4 hours per workshop) (approximately 16 hours across the semester) - Approximately 82 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for lectures and other assessment tasks.
N/A Preliminary Reading Nuclear Reactor Analysis (Duderstadt and Hamilton; Wiley, New York) Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (Lamarsh and Baratta; Prentice Hall, New Jersey)