Objectives:
- To understand the physical processes involved in a nuclear reactor
- To understand and be able to write down and solve the basic equations
- To be able to simulate a reactor/source configuration as appropriate depending on:
- number of dimensions
- steady state or transient
- number of groups
- delayed precursors
- space dependent properties and grid spacing
- To learn how to measure neutron distributions and parameters relevant for nuclear reactors, in particular reactivity and reactivity coefficients.
List of topics:
- Physics of nuclear reactors
- Transport and diffusion
- Spatial dependence
- Slowing down theory
- Resonance integrals
- Cell calculations
- Neutron thermalisation
- Multigroup equations
- Reactivity and control
- Reactor dynamics
- Reactor codes
- Neutron sources and detectors
- Basic measurements: source strength, neutron flux (activation analysis, neutron counting), neutron spectrum (time of flight methods, unfolding methods), reaction rates
- Activity, dose and cross-section measurement
- Measurement of neutron transport parameters: stationary methods, pulsed neutron experiments
- Measurement of reactivities (and reactivity coefficients): survey, static methods, dynamic measurements, inverse kinetics
- Statistical fluctuation method: reactor noise, mathematical analysis, applications (Rossi-alpha, sign correlations, zero crossings)
References:
J.J. Duderstadt and L.J. Hamilton, "Nuclear Reactor Analysis", 1976 (Wiley & Sons)
Lamarsh, J.R., "Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory", Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass., 1966.
Profio, A.E., Experimental Reactor Physics, J. Wiley, 1976.
Amplitude and teaching methods:
- 2.5 t.m. , 45 hours lectures, 45 hours lab. sessions, 15 hours independent study
- SCK•CEN guidance: use of codes: 1 day
- Use of a critical assembly at SCK•CEN.