Objectives:
- To learn how to operate a nuclear reactor
- To learn the reactivity change of a reactor core during a burn-up cycle
- To learn the basics of core reloading
Emphasis will be placed on PWR-technology
List of topics:
- Variation of the core reactivity during a burn-up cycle (BOL-EOL) (temperature, Doppler and power coefficient; poisoning)
- Methods of control of the reactivity change
- Organisation of operating modes, operation and protection diagrams, Xe oscillations and their control
- Organisation of operation and maintenance, interruption, surveillance and incidents
- Operational constraints imposed by the electric net: regulation of steam cycle
- Automatic control systems and their performance in transient and steady state operation
- Evolution of the fissile and fertile composition of the core during a cycle and their impact on core behaviour
- Plutonium production and MOX recycling
- The basic principles of core-reloading
Amplitude and teaching methods:
- 1 t.m.
- Visit of a nuclear power plant during reloading operations
- Practical exercises with a simulator
- 1 day demonstration with codes for reload operation and core evolution