Nuclear power facilities, fuel cycle, radiation safety

Description: The discipline is aimed at studying the theoretical and practical aspects of nuclear energy. The aim of the course is to provide PhD students with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in the field of nuclear energy. The course covers the main types of nuclear reactors, their design and principles of operation, stages of the fuel cycle, including uranium mining and enrichment, fuel production and nuclear waste management. Special attention is paid to radiation safety issues, sources and types of radiation, protection methods and regulatory aspects. Students gain knowledge about the causes and consequences of accidents at nuclear facilities, as well as measures to prevent and eliminate them. The course promotes the formation of critical thinking, assessment and decision-making skills in the field of nuclear energy and radiation safety.

Amount of credits: 5

Пререквизиты:

• Physics of Condensed State

Course Workload:

Component: Component by selection

Cycle: Base disciplines

Goal

• Mastering theoretical and practical knowledge on nuclear energy, fuel cycle and radiation safety. Special attention is paid to the development of critical thinking and the ability to make informed decisions in the field of nuclear energy and radiation safety.

Objective

• To familiarize learners with the main types of nuclear power plants and the principles of their operation.Consider the stages of the fuel cycle in nuclear energy.To study the basic principles of radiation safety and protection methods.

Learning outcome: knowledge and understanding

• Upon completion of the course, students will have the following knowledge and understanding:Knowledge:The main types of nuclear reactors and the principles of their operation.Stages of the fuel cycle, including mining, uranium enrichment, fuel production and waste management.Sources and types of radiation, their biological effects and methods of protection.National and international norms and rules in the field of nuclear safety.Causes and consequences of accidents at nuclear facilities, as well as measures to prevent and eliminate them.Understanding:Principles of operation of various types of nuclear reactors.The relationship between the stages of the fuel cycle and their impact on the efficiency and safety of nuclear installations.The basic principles of radiation protection and their application in real conditions.The role and significance of regulations and organizations in ensuring nuclear safety.Mechanisms of emergency situations at nuclear facilities and approaches to managing such situations.

Learning outcome: applying knowledge and understanding

• Analysis and evaluation of the operation of various types of nuclear reactors.Application of radiation protection methods in various conditions.Solving problems related to the stages of the fuel cycle.Development of measures to ensure nuclear safety.Assessment and management of risks in the operation of nuclear installations.Development and implementation of procedures to prevent emergencies and minimize their consequences.

Learning outcome: formation of judgments

• Critical understanding and evaluation of current and promising technologies in nuclear energy.Formation of informed opinions on the safety of nuclear installations.Assessment of the economic, environmental and social aspects of nuclear energy.Making informed decisions on nuclear waste management issues.Formation of approaches to the integration of radiation safety principles into professional activities.

Learning outcome: communicative abilities

• develop the communication skills needed to work in a team.

Learning outcome: learning skills or learning abilities

• The ability to demonstrate professional knowledge in the field of particle detection and nanosecond electronics. 2. Readiness to apply the ideas and methods of modern nuclear physics in other areas of human activity.

Teaching methods

1.Lecture-seminar-credit system 2. Research methods 3. Information and communication technologies

Assessment of the student's knowledge

Teacher oversees various tasks related to ongoing assessment and determines students' current performance twice during each academic period. Ratings 1 and 2 are formulated based on the outcomes of this ongoing assessment. The student's learning achievements are assessed using a 100-point scale, and the final grades P1 and P2 are calculated as the average of their ongoing performance evaluations. The teacher evaluates the student's work throughout the academic period in alignment with the assignment submission schedule for the discipline. The assessment system may incorporate a mix of written and oral, group and individual formats.

The evaluating policy of learning outcomes by work type

Evaluation form

The student's final grade in the course is calculated on a 100 point grading scale, it includes:

• 40% of the examination result;
• 60% of current control result.

The final grade is calculated by the formula:

 

Where Midterm 1, Midterm 2are digital equivalents of the grades of Midterm 1 and 2;

E is a digital equivalent of the exam grade.

Final alphabetical grade and its equivalent in points:

The letter grading system for students' academic achievements, corresponding to the numerical equivalent on a four-point scale:

Topics of lectures

• Introduction to Nuclear Energy
• Nuclear reactions and fission
• The principle of operation and design of PWR, BWR, PWR, etc
• Advantages and disadvantages of different types of reactors
• Physical processes in nuclear reactors
• Interaction of neutrons with matter
• The main elements of reactor design
• Heat exchangers, steam generators and cooling systems
• The fuel cycle in nuclear energy
• Uranium mining and enrichment
• Production and manufacture of nuclear fuel
• Nuclear waste management
• Types of nuclear waste
• Recycling and burial methods
• Radiation safety

Key reading

• Иванов И.И. Основы ядерной энергетики, Издательство МГУ, 2020.Петров П.П., Радиационная безопасность в ядерной энергетике, Издательство НИЯУ МИФИ, 2018.

Further reading

• Ядерные реакторы: теория и практика, под ред. Сидорова С.С., Издательство Энергоатомиздат, 2019.Топливный цикл ядерной энергетики, под ред. Кузнецова К.К., Издательство Атомиздат, 2021.