PHYS-443 Physics of nuclear reactors

A hybrid format will be used for the teaching of this class. 

The Zoom sessions will be recorded and made available through Moodle. The zoom link / password are below:

https://epfl.zoom.us/j/61588013324?pwd=aDRmODRCTldnQm82QzdtcmlxeW1hUT09

Meeting ID: 615 8801 3324

Passcode: 850692

The exercises associated with each lecture will be provided through Moodle each week; their solutions the week after. 

Summary

In this course, one acquires an understanding of the basic neutronics interactions occurring in a nuclear fission reactor as well as the conditions for establishing and controlling a nuclear chain reaction.

Content

  • Brief review of nuclear physics
    - Historical: Constitution of the nucleus and discovery of the neutron - Nuclear reactions and radioactivity - Cross sections - Differences between fusion and fission.
  • Nuclear fission
    - Characteristics - Nuclear fuel - Introductory elements of neutronics.
    - Fissile and fertile materials - Breeding.
  • Neutron diffusion and slowing down
    - Monoenergetic neutrons - Angular and scalar flux
    - Diffusion theory as simplified case of transport theory - Neutron slowing down through elastic scattering.
  • Multiplying media (reactors)
    - Multiplication factors - Criticality condition in simple cases.
    - Thermal reactors - Neutron spectra - Multizone reactors - Multigroup theory and general criticality condition - Heterogeneous reactors.
  • Reactor kinetics
    - Point reactor model: prompt and delayed transients - Practical applications.
  • Reactivity variations and control
    - Short, medium and long term reactivity changes. Different means of control.