The experiments will be basically performed at a nuclear facility, including Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA). The students will stay at the facility, for example, for one week for the experiments. Basically the criticality experiments, the control rods calibration experiment, and the neutron flux distribution measurement experiment are performed using light water moderated core. The training for the operation of nuclear reactor and safety check of nuclear facility are also performed.
For the safe use of nuclear energy, it is necessary to understand fundamental theory of reactor physics and maintenance for safety of nuclear facility. This class aims to deepen the understanding of them by the experiments and training.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the principles of the experiments such as criticality approach, control rod worth measurement, and neutron flux measurement.
2. Perform the fundamental safety operation of nuclear facilities
3. Perform critical calculations using group constants
4. Explain the theory of reactor kinetic calculation and activation by neutrons
Reactor physics, Criticality approach, criticality calculation, reactor kinetics, neutron flux measurement
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Pre-experiment lectures are provided before the experiments for the well understanding of the experiments. In the lectures, the outline of experimental apparatus, the principal of experiment, and the experiment procedure are explained. Students are requested to submit pre-report. The measurements and analyses are done by each student group. The group discussions about the experiment results are done after the experiments. Each student is requested to submit the experiment reports.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Outline of experiments | Students must be able to explain about the outline of experiments |
Class 2 | Treatment of radioactive materials | Students must be able to treat radioactive materials safely. |
Class 3 | Theory in criticality approach experiment | Students must be able to explain about the fundamental theory in critical approach experiment and perform criticality calculation. |
Class 4 | Theory in control rod worth measurement | Students must be able to explain about the fundamental theory in control rod worth measurement |
Class 5 | Theory in neutron flux distribution measurement experiment | Students must be able to explain about the fundamental theory in neutron flux distribution measurement |
Class 6 | Safety check procedure before and after nuclear reactor operation | Students must be able to explain about the procedure before and after nuclear reactor operation |
Class 7 | Criticality approach experiment (1) Initial core design | Students must be able to explain about the requirement of initial core design for criticality approach experiment |
Class 8 | Criticality approach experiment (2) Measurement of inverse multiplication | Students must be able to estimate criticality mass by the inverse multiplication in criticality approach experiment |
Class 9 | Criticality approach experiment (3) Judgment of criticality | Students must be able to judge of criticality of nuclear reactor. |
Class 10 | Control rod worth measurement (1) Period method and compensation method | Student must be able to calculate control rod worth from the result of experiments by period method and compensation method. |
Class 11 | Control rod worth measurement (2) Rod drop method | Student must be able to calculate control rod worth from the result of experiments by rod drop method. |
Class 12 | Neutron flux distribution measurement (1) Preparation of activation foils and settings | Student must be able to explain about the fundamentals of activation foils used for neutron flux distribution measurement. |
Class 13 | Neutron flux distribution measurement (2) Measurement of activated foils | Students must be able to calculate neutron flux distribution from the results of activated foils. |
Class 14 | Nuclear reactor operation | Student must be able to explain about the fundamentals of nuclear reactor operation |
Class 15 | Presentation and discussion about experiment results | Student must be able to present about the experiment results and discuss about it. |
Tsuyosi Misawa, Hironobu Unesaki, Cheolho Pyen, ”Nuclear Reactor Physics Experiments”, Kyoto University Press (2010).
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).
Students are assessed by the understanding of fundamentals of neutron transport theory and nuclear reactor theory.
Pre-experiment report 50%, Experiment report 50%
It is needed to have fundamental knowledge of neutron transport theory and nuclear reactor theory.
tobara[at]nr.titech.ac.ji (Prof. Obara)
Prior appointment by e-mail is necessary.