Spring Semester L-4, T-I

COURSE INFORMATION
Course Code : NE 409
Lecture Contact Hours : 3.00
Course Title : Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste
Credit Hours : 3.00
Management
PRE-REQUISITE
NE 101
CURRICULUM STRUCTURE
Outcome Based Education (OBE)
SYNOPSIS/RATIONALE

This course is designed to provide a general introduction to the various opportunities in the emerging
field of nuclear fuel system and the classification of radioactive waste and its conditioning and disposal
management.

OBJECTIVES

1. To understand the process of Uranium mining, milling, conversions, enrichment and fuel fabrication
techniques.
2. To acquiring the skill of fuel designing, fuel performance analysis, burn-up analysis and spent fuel
reprocessing methods.
3. To understand the classification of radioactive waste and its conditioning and develop safety cases
and assessments for repositories.
4. To acquire the knowledge of different waste treatment procedures and demonstrate both
environmental and radiological safety in case of radioactive waste disposals.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Understand the various opportunities in the emerging field of nuclear fuel system and the
classification of radioactive waste and its conditioning and disposal management.
2. Explain the fundamentals of Uranium mining, milling, conversions, enrichment and fuel fabrication
techniques.
3. Analyze the classifications of radioactive waste and its conditioning and develop safety cases and
assessments for repositories.
4. Evaluate the fuel design and performance analysis and demonstrate both environmental and
radiological safety in case of radioactive waste disposals.

COURSE OUTCOMES & GENERIC SKILLS

Corresponding Bloom’s Assessment
No. Course Learning Outcome CP CA KP
POs Taxonomy Methods
Understand the various opportunities
in the emerging field of nuclear fuel
CO1 system and the classification of PO1, PO2 C1,C2, C3 - - 1 T, Q, F
radioactive waste and its conditioning
and disposal management.
Explain the fundamentals of Uranium
mining, milling, conversions,
CO2 PO2 C3, C4 - - 3 ASG, F
enrichment and fuel fabrication
techniques.
Analyze the classifications of
radioactive waste and its conditioning
CO3 PO4 C2,C3,C4 - - 3 MT, F
and develop safety cases and
assessments for repositories.
CO4 Evaluate the fuel design and PO5 C5, C6 - - 5 T, F
performance analysis and demonstrate
 both environmental and radiological
safety in case of radioactive waste
disposals.

(CP- Complex Problems, CA-Complex Activities, KP-Knowledge Profile, T – Test ; PR – Project ; Q –

Quiz; ASG – Assignment; Pr – Presentation; R - Report; F – Final Exam, MT- Mid Term Exam)

COURSE CONTENT

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

An overview of the fuel cycle, Different Fuels and Fuel Utilization, mining and milling of uranium,
purification and conversion to UF6, Enrichment of uranium, Separative Work Unit (SWU), fuel rod and
fuel assembly designs, In core fuel management, Different refueling methods, properties of irradiated
fuel, spent fuel management, nuclear fuel reprocessing, Fusion fuel cycle, Fuel cycle economy.

Radioactive Waste Management

Radioactive waste definition and classification, LLW,ILW And HLW; principles to manage radioactive
waste, wastes from the 'front end' and 'back end' of the fuel cycle, decommissioning waste, transuranic
waste; different separation techniques of nuclear wastes; The Purex process, conversion of radioactive
wastes, decontamination of radioactive element, treatment process of gaseous, aqueous and solid wastes,
conditioning process of HLW,ILW,LLW and spent fuels, treatment and conditioning processes-
incineration, compaction, cementation, bituminization, calcination, vitrification, synroc and composite
waste forms, glass-ceramic composites, engineered encapsulation, transportation and storage systems of
nuclear waste, disposal ; different disposal techniques, shallow disposal, deep disposal, dry cask storage
and spent fuel pool, policy, governance, social and political issues, environmental impact assessment.

SKILL MAPPING(CO-PO MAPPING)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES (PO)

No. Course Learning Outcome
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Understand the various
opportunities in the emerging field
of nuclear fuel system and the
CO1 2 3
classification of radioactive waste
and its conditioning and disposal
management.
Explain the fundamentals of
Uranium mining, milling,
CO2 3
conversions, enrichment and fuel
fabrication techniques.
Analyze the classifications of
radioactive waste and its
CO3 conditioning and develop safety 3
cases and assessments for
repositories.
Evaluate the fuel design and
performance analysis and
CO4 demonstrate both environmental 2
and radiological safety in case of
radioactive waste disposals.
(3 – High, 2- Medium, 1-low)
Justification for CO-PO Mapping:
Corresponding
Mapping Justification
Level of Matching
 In order to understand the various opportunities in the emerging field of nuclear
fuel system and the classification of radioactive waste and its conditioning and
CO1-PO1 2 disposal management, the knowledge of mathematics, natural science,
engineering fundamentals and an engineering specialization to the solution of
complex engineering problems is to be applied.
In order to understand the various opportunities in the emerging field of nuclear
fuel system and the classification of radioactive waste and its conditioning and
CO1-PO2 3 disposal management, identification, formulation, research literature and analysis
of complex engineering problems reaching substantiated conclusions using first
principles of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering sciences are required.
In order to explain the fundamentals of Uranium mining, milling, conversions,
enrichment and fuel fabrication techniques, identification, formulation, research
CO2-PO2 3 literature and analysis of complex engineering problems reaching substantiated
conclusions using first principles of mathematics, natural sciences and
engineering sciences are required.
In order to analyze the classifications of radioactive waste and its conditioning
and develop safety cases and assessments for repositories, it is required to conduct
CO3-PO4 3 investigations of complex problems using research-based knowledge and research
methods including design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, and
synthesis of information to provide valid conclusions.
In order to evaluate the fuel design and performance analysis and demonstrate
both environmental and radiological safety in case of radioactive waste disposals,
CO4-PO5 2 it is required to create, select and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and
modern engineering and IT tools, including prediction and modelling, to complex
engineering problems, with an understanding of the limitations.
TEACHING LEARNING STRATEGY
Teaching and Learning Activities Engagement
(hours)

Face-to-Face Learning
Lecture 42
Practical / Tutorial / Studio -
Student-Centred Learning -
Self-Directed Learning
Non-face-to-face learning 84
Revision 21
Formal Assessment
Continuous Assessment 2
Mid-Term 1
Final Examination 3
Total 153
TEACHING METHODOLOGY

Lecture and Discussion, Co-operative and Collaborative Method, Problem Based Method

COURSE SCHEDULE

Weeks Topics Remarks

An Overview Of The Fuel Cycle, Different Fuels And Fuel Utilization, Mining Of
Week-1
Uranium, Heap Leaching
Class Test
In Situ Leaching, Milling Of Uranium, Solvent Extraction Of Uranium, Purification And
Week-2 1, Final
Conversion To UF6
Exam
Uranium Enrichment: Gaseous Diffusion, Uranium Enrichment: Centrifuge Enrichment,
Week-3
Laser Isotope Separation Process, Separative Work Unit (SWU)
Week-4 Analysis Of SWU, Fuel Rod And Assembly Design-1, Fuel Rod And Assembly Design-2 Class Test
2, Final
In Core Fuel Management, Fuel Management And Fuel Reload Pattern -1, Fuel
Week-5 Exam
Management And Fuel Reload Pattern -2
 Week-6 Fuel Burn Up Calculation -1, Fuel Burn Up Calculation-2, Properties Of Irradiated Fuel
Spent Fuel Management , Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing,Fusion Fuel Cycle, Fuel Cycle
Week-7
Economy
Radioactive Waste Definition And Classification, LLW,ILW and HLW, Principles To
Week-8
Manage Radioactive Waste
Wastes From The 'Front End' And 'Back End' Of The Fuel Cycle, Decommissioning Mid Term,
Week-9
Waste, Transuranic Waste, Different Separation Techniques Of Nuclear Wastes Final Exam
The Purex process, Conversion of radioactive wastes, Decontamination Of Radioactive
Week-10
Element, Treatment Process Of Gaseous, Aqueous And Solid Wastes
Conditioning Process Of HLW,ILW,LLW, Spent Fuels Treatment And Conditioning
Processes- Incineration, Compaction, Cementation, Bituminization, Calcination, Spent
Week-11
Fuels Treatment And Conditioning Processes-Vitrification, Synroc And Composite Waste
Forms
Composite Waste Forms, Glass-Ceramic Composites, Engineered Encapsulation, Class Test
Week-12 3, Final
Transportation And Storage Systems Of Nuclear Waste
Exam
Week-13 Different Disposal Techniques, Shallow Disposal, Deep Disposal, Dry Cask Storage
Spent Fuel Pool, Policy, Governance, Social And Political Issues, Environmental Impact
Week-14
Assessment

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

Components Grading CO Blooms Taxonomy

Class Test/
Assignment 20% CO1, CO2, CO4 C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6
Continuous (1-3)
Assessment
Class
(40%) 5% - -
Participation
Mid term 15% CO3 C2,C3, C4
Final Examination 60% CO1,CO2,CO3,CO4 C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6
Total Marks 100%

(CO = Course Outcome, C = Cognitive Domain, P = Psychomotor Domain, A = Affective Domain)

REFERENCE BOOKS

1. Peter. D. Wilsion, "The nuclear fuel cycle from ore to waste" oxford science publications, Oct 1996.
2. “Radioactive Waste Management”- An IAEA Source Book
3. OECD Nuclear Energy Agency "Advanced nuclear fuel cycles and radioactive waste management" 2006.
4. Donald R. Wily "The chemistry of nuclear fuel waste deposal" polytechnic international press, 2002.
5. Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals A Practical Perspective, Robert E. Masterson
6. Applied Reactor Technology, Henryk Anglart

REFERENCE SITE