2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Basic Nuclear Engineering 1
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Toru Obara
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- TSE.A337
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 25, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course aims to give basic knowledge about nuclear reactor engineering. First of all, there will be an introduction about nuclear reactions and fission reaction chain, which are needed to understand the principles of nuclear reactors. After that, some important issues in nuclear reactor engineering are explained, including design concepts of nuclear reactors in practical use, innovative nuclear energy systems and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident.
Course description and aims
By the end of course, the students will be able to perform the followings, which are important as the study of basics of nuclear reactor engineering
1) Explain the principles of nuclear reactor based on nuclear fission chain reaction
2) Explain the concept of typical nuclear reactors
3) Explain the concept of innovative nuclear reactor system study
4) Explain the outline of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident
Keywords
Nuclear Reactor Engineering, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the end of the each lecture, exercise problems will be given to students to deepen the understanding of the topic.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Nuclear Energy | Explain the fundamental of nuclear reactions and nuclear energy |
| Class 2 | Nuclear Fission | Explain the feature of nuclear fission |
| Class 3 | Nuclear Fission Reaction Chain | Explain the concept of fission reaction chain and the measure to achieve it |
| Class 4 | Criticality of Nuclear Reactor | Explain the concept of the critical of nuclear reactor and its control |
| Class 5 | Core Burnup | Explain the nuclear transmutation in nuclear reactor |
| Class 6 | Nuclear Reactor Design | Explain the design concept of typical nuclear reactor in practical use |
| Class 7 | Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident | Explain the outline of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident |
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)
No textbook.
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).
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students are assessed the understanding of fundamentals of nuclear reactor engineering covered in the class。
Exercises in class (20%)
Final assignment report (80%)
Related courses
- TSE.A311 ： Introduction to Nuclear Engineering
- TSE.A338 ： Basic Nuclear Engineering 2
- TSE.A339 ： Basic Nuclear Engineering 3
- TSE.A340 ： Basic Nuclear Engineering 4
Prerequisites
General knowledge about science and engineering
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
Prior appointment by e-mail is required.