Spring Semester L-4, T-I

COURSE INFORMATION
Course Code : NE 425 Lecture Contact Hours : 4.00
Course Title : Nuclear Reactor Design and Features Credit Hours : 4.00
PRE-REQUISITE
NE 203, NE 307

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE
Outcome Based Education (OBE)
SYNOPSIS/RATIONALE
This course is designed to understand and identify various types of approaches and methods of nuclear
reactor core design. It also helps to analyze various designs of reactor core satisfying the parameters of the
particular reactor type.

OBJECTIVES
1. To understand the fundamentals of nuclear reactor design for criticality and burnup calculation.
2. To identify various types of principles and techniques of reactor core design methods.
3. To analyze unique designs of reactor core satisfying the parameters of the particular reactor type.
4. To evaluate the various reactor designs based on knowledge and data from many nuclear engineering
fields including reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, and nuclear safety.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Identify various types of principles and techniques of reactor core design methods.
2. Analyze various unique designs of reactor core satisfying the parameters of the particular reactor type.
3. Evaluate the various reactor designs based on knowledge and data from many nuclear engineering
fields including reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, and nuclear safety.
4. To be able to formulate the design procedure of reactor parameters

COURSE OUTCOMES & GENERIC SKILLS

Corresponding Bloom’s Assessment
No. Course Learning Outcome CP CA KP
POs Taxonomy Methods
Understand the fundamentals of
CO1 nuclear reactor design for criticality PO2 C2 - - 2 T, Q, F
and burnup calculation
Identify various types of principles
and techniques of reactor core design
CO2 PO3 C3 - - 3 ASG, F
methods.

Analyze various unique designs of

reactor core satisfying the parameters
CO3 PO4 C4 - - 3 MT, F
of the particular reactor type.

Evaluate the various reactor designs

based on knowledge and data from
many nuclear engineering fields
CO4 PO9 C6 3 3 5 T, F, ASG
including reactor physics, thermal
hydraulics, and nuclear safety.

(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

Fuel Burn up and Reactivity Control: Criticality Calculation for Square Unit pin cell, Hexagonal unit Pin
Cell, 1-D Cylindrical Cell, Fuel Burn up Analysis, Fission Product Poisoning and Xenon Oscillation,
Effects of Burnable Poison and Chemical Shim, Control Rod Worth, Inherent Reactivity Effects,
 Perturbation Theory for Reactivity Calculations. Reactivity Feedack.

Nuclear Reactor Calculations: Nuclear Reactor Design Calculations, Reactor Core, Plant Dynamics and
Safety Calculations

Reactor Design: Design of Various Reactor Core (i.e: LWR, FBR, SMR etc)

Advanced Nuclear Power plant design, Evolutionary Design, Nuclear Steam Supply System, Reactor
Pressure Vessel and Primary Coolant Pump, Pressuriser, Steam Generator, Separator and Dryer Design of
Reactor Shielding and Reflector, Containment Building, Plant Performance Analysis, Salient features of
SMRS and SMART

SKILL MAPPING(CO-PO MAPPING)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES (PO)

No. Course Learning Outcome
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Identify various types of principles
CO1 and techniques of reactor core 3
design methods.
Analyze various unique designs of
reactor core satisfying the
CO2 3
parameters of the particular reactor
type.
Evaluate the various reactor
designs based on knowledge and
data from many nuclear
CO3 3
engineering fields including reactor
physics, thermal hydraulics, and
nuclear safety.
Evaluate the various reactor
designs based on knowledge and
data from many nuclear
CO4 2
engineering fields including reactor
physics, thermal hydraulics, and
nuclear safety
(3 – High, 2- Medium, 1-low)
Justification for CO-PO Mapping:
Corresponding Level
Mapping Justification
of Matching
In order to identify various types of principles and techniques of reactor core
design methods, identification, formulation, research literature and analysis of
CO1-PO2 3 complex engineering problems reaching substantiated conclusions using first
principles of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering sciences are required

In order to analyze various unique designs of reactor core satisfying the

parameters of the particular reactor type, it is required to conduct investigations of
CO2-PO3 3 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 various reactor designs based on knowledge and data from
many nuclear engineering fields including reactor physics, thermal hydraulics,
and nuclear safety, it is required to conduct investigations of complex problems
CO3-PO4 2
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 various reactor designs based on knowledge and data from
many nuclear engineering fields including reactor physics, thermal hydraulics,
CO4-PO9 2
and nuclear safety, by performing individual and group tasks through the design
and analysis of different reactors.
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

Fuel Burnup and Reactivity Control:
Week-1
Fuel Burnup Analysis, Fission Product Poisoning
Fuel Burnup and Reactivity Control: Class Test
Week-2 Effects of Burnable Poison and Chemical Shim, Control Rod Worth, Inherent Reactivity 1, Final
Effects Exam
Fuel Burnup and Reactivity Control:
Week-3
Perturbation Theory for Reactivity Calculations
Nuclear Design Calculations:
Week-4 Fundamental Neutron Transport Equation ,Neutron Spectrum, Nuclear Data and Cross
Sections
Class Test
Nuclear Design Calculations:
Week-5 2, Final
Lattice Calculation, Core Calculation
Exam
Nuclear Design Calculations:
Week-6
Lattice Calculation, Core Calculation
Week-7 Advanced Nuclear Power plant design
Week-8 Evolutionary Design
Mid Term,
Week-9 Nuclear Steam Supply System, Reactor Pressure Vessel and Primary Coolant Pump
Final Exam
Week-10 Pressuriser, Steam Generator, Separator
Week-11 Design of Reactor Shielding and Reflector
Week-12 Containment Building Class Test
3, Final
Week-13 Plant Performance Analysis
Exam
Week-14 Salient features of SMRS and SMART

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
 Components Grading CO Blooms Taxonomy
Class Test/
Assignment 20% CO1, CO2, CO4 C2, C3, C4,C6
Continuous (1-3)
Assessment
Class
(40%) 5% CO1 -
Participation
Mid term 15% CO3 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. Nuclear Reactor Design, Yoshoaki Oka, Springer, 2014

2. Applied Reactor Technology, Henryk Anglart, 2011
3. Nuclear Powerplant Design Analysis, Alexander Sesonske
4. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Design Basics by Samuel Glasstone Paperback, 1994.
5. Nuclear Reactor Analysis by Duderstad and Hamilton, Wiley, 1977.

REFERENCE SITE