2024 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Yukitaka Kato / Toru Obara / Takuya Harada
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- NCL.D404
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course covers the structure of nuclear power plants and the radiation found there, dismantling technology for long-running nuclear power plants, the generation of dismantling waste, and treatment and disposing technology for the waste, such that students learn the current circumstances around measures for decommissioning nuclear reactors. Through a cost evaluation of removal measures, we will go over the life cycle of nuclear power plants, including waste processing. Finally we will touch on global experience dismantling nuclear reactors, making clear what problems await regarding decommissioning measures.
Course description and aims
[Course objectives] This course covers measures for decommissioning and dismantling nuclear power plants, treatment and disposing of dismantled waste, the economics of decommissioning costs, the global situation and issues for reactor decommissioning. Students learn the technological system necessary for decommissioning that will be starting for first generation reactors that have been running for over 40 years.
[Topics] The topics of this course are the structure and life of nuclear power plants, radioactivity of nuclear power plants, dismantling of nuclear power plants, treatment and disposing technologies for dismantled waste, decommissioning costs, and the current global situation and issues for decommissioning measures. Students will learn through these about the current situation and issues for decommissioning technology.
Keywords
Dismantling technology, demolition waste, reactor decommissioning, life cycle
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lecture of 80 minutes and the quiz on the lecture
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The reactor decommissioning | Students can explain necessity of decommissioning reactor. |
| Class 2 | The life of the structure and the reactor of the nuclear power plant | Students can explain the structure of a nuclear power plant and the life of a nuclear reactor. |
| Class 3 | Radioactivity of the nuclear power plant | Students can explain the circumstances for radiation at a nuclear power plant. |
| Class 4 | Dismantling technology of nuclear power plant | Students can explain dismantling technology for a nuclear power plant. |
| Class 5 | Treatment and disposal of demolition waste | Students can explain treatment and disposal of dismantled waste. |
| Class 6 | Life cycle of the decommissioning costs and nuclear power plant | Students can understanding decommissioning costs and the life cycle of nuclear power plants. |
| Class 7 | Decommissioning experience of the world | Students can explain global decommissioning experiences. |
| Class 8 | Future issues of decommissioning technology | Students can explain future problems for decommissioning technology. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Nothing Special
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Nothing Special
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluates understanding of waste treatment and disposal, economic efficiency, etc. of decommissioning measures for nuclear power plants. Grades are awarded based on in-class exercises (40%) and reports (60%).
Related courses
- CAP.E362 ： Nuclear Chemical Engineering
Prerequisites
Nothing special