2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
Innovative Nuclear Systems Design Project
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Nuclear Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Toru Obara
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- NCL.N411
- Number of credits
- 020
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3-4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Students design a nuclear reactor which they choose by themselves. It is required to make clear the purpose and the application of the reactor, perform neutornic and thermal-hydraulic analysis, and estimate the usefulness of the reactor. Students deepen the understanding about the analyses and learn how to apply them. In addition, students learn how to explain the purpose and the usefulness to introduce the reactor.
Course description and aims
The students will be able to:
(1) Set the purpose to introduce the nuclear reactor by themselves and explain it.
(2) Perform fundamental neurotic analysis to design the reactor.
(3) Perform fundamental thermal-hydraulic analysis to design the reactor.
(4) Explain the usefulness of the designed reactor.
Keywords
Innovative nuclear reactor systems, nuclear reactor design, neurotic analysis, thermal-hydraulic analysis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Usually two students make a team and design a reactor which they decide by themselves. Each team reports the progress at the class every time. The lecturers and teaching assistant give comments and support if it is needed.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Lecture about the innovative nuclear systems and reactor design analysis | Students decide the purpose and application of the reactor they design and deicide the reactor type. |
| Class 2 | Design work of nuclear reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 3 | Design work of nuclear reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 4 | Design work of nuclear reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 5 | Design work of nuclear reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 6 | Design work of nuclear reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 7 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 8 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 9 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 10 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 11 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 12 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 13 | To design the reactor | Proceed to design the reactor and explain the progress |
| Class 14 | Final presentation | Explain the purpose, application, neutronic and thermal-hydraulic characteristics and usefulness of the designed reactor. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes before the class and another 100 minutes after the class for the design study based on the comments at the class and references.
Textbook(s)
No textbook is set.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
John R. Lamarsh, “Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory”, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. (1965).
James J. Duderstadt, Louis J. Hamilton, “Nuclear Reactor Analysis”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1976).
George I. Bell, Samuel Glasstone, “Nuclear Reactor Theory”, Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co., Inc. (1970).
Samuel Glasstone, Alexander Sesonske, "Nuclear Reactor Engineering", Chapman & Hall, Inc. (1994).
Weston M. Stacey, “Nuclear Reactor Physics”, WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA (2004).
Raymond L. Murray and Keith E. Holbert, "Nuclear Energy: An Introduction to The Concepts, Systems and Application of Nuclear Processes Seventh Edition", Elsevier Ltd. (2013).
E.E. Lewis, “Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactor Physics”, Academic Press (2008).
Neil E. Todreas, Mujid S. Kazimi, "Nuclear Systems I Second Edition", CRC Press (2011).
Neil E. Todreas, Mujid S. Kazimi, "Nuclear Systems II", Routledge (1990).
Evaluation methods and criteria
Presentation about the purpose, application, neutronic characteristics, thermal-hydraulic characteristics and usefulness of the designed reactor at the final presentation
Related courses
- NCL.N401 ： Basic Nuclear Physics
- NCL.N402 ： Nuclear Reactor Theory I
- NCL.N406 ： Nuclear Reactor Theory II
- NCL.N403 ： Nuclear Materials and Structures
- NCL.N405 ： Nuclear Reactor Thermal-hydraulics
- NCL.N407 ： Nuclear Safety Engineering
- NCL.N409 ： Nuclear Energy Systems
Prerequisites
Students must have successfully completed the classes about nuclear physics, nuclear reactor theory, nuclear materials, nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics and nuclear energy systems, or have enough knowledge of the fields.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
tobara[at]zc.iir.isct.ac.jp (Prof. Obara)
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.