NE 360: Nuclear Safety Systems and Function

Course Title:  Nuclear Safety Systems and Function
Course Number:  360
Professor: A. Ruggles
Nuclear Engineering Department
312 Pasqua Engineering Building
Ph: 423-974-7563 Fax: 423-974-0668
E-mail: aruggles@utk.edu

Course Description and Goals:
This course familiarizes the student with current design practice and regulation in the light water nuclear power reactor industry, which currently produces 20 percent of the electricity used in the United States.  Thermal design for nuclear reactors is examined.  This involves development of one-dimensional two-phase flow models used in evaporators and steam generators.  Flow boiling heat transfer models are developed and thermal limit models for steam generators and nuclear fuel assemblies are examined.  These combined skills allow the student to do first order thermal-hydraulic design and analysis of a steam generator or nuclear fuel assembly.

Components, instrumentation and systems required for safe normal operation of a nuclear power reactor are reviewed.  The function of components and systems employed for accident mitigation is also studied.  Two-phase critical flow is examined and models for critical flow are used to evaluate liquid inventory loss rates for hypothetical pressure boundary failures.  the relationship of these topics to current rules of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is also presented.

Text:   Nuclear Systems 1, Todreas and Kazimi, Taylor and Francis, 1993.

Student Effort Breakdown:

Homework Assignments, 25%
Review Activity
    Written Report(s), 25%
    Oral Report(s), 15%
In-Class Exams, 35%

Students in this Course will gain:

  1. An ability to understand and apply models for one-dimensional two-phasethermal-hydraulics.
  2. An ability to design and analyze steam generators.
  3. An ability to communicate technical design information effectively in both oral and written venues.
  4. A knowledge of contemporary reactor safety and regulatory issues.




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