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November 8, 2021

New Course Syllabus

UN0504:
Small Modular Reactors

SYLLABUS

A. Learning objectives

After completing this module, students will be able to:

i. Understand and critically review the most important types of SMR reactors.
ii. Understand and analyse the physics, thermal hydraulics and fuel design features of
selected SMR designs, including the thermal efficiency, thermal margins, and safety
margins.
iii. Assess the level of safety improvements in the SMR reactors, compare safety features of
different SMR types, and make conclusions on the appropriateness for the level of
development of a country.
iv. Understand and assess the design and operational features of SMR reactors to support
positive regulatory, social, environmental, human and safety impacts.

B. Short description

The course describes the role of the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in electricity generation
and for special applications in developed and developing countries. Selected types of SMRs
that are relevant and considered for implementation in Canada are described in the course.
The course covers the most important design features of selected SMR reactors in each
group. The course summarizes the physics, thermalhydraulics, fuel and safety characteristics
of the selected SMR designs. Comparison of safety improvements, inherent and passive
safety features, and reactor safety margins for different SMR designs are included.

C. Main modules

1. Introduction
1.1. Electricity generation in the world and selected countries
1.2. Role of nuclear power plants in the national and global electricity production
1.3. Role of SMRs in developed and developing countries
1.4. Social and environmental aspects of SMRs
1.5. Outline of financial models for phased implementation of SMRs
1.6. Generic characteristics of SMRs (safety, economics, replication etc.)

2. Basic types of SMR reactors

2.1. Water Cooled Small Modular Reactors
2.2. High Temperature Gas Cooled Small Modular Reactor (fast and molten salt)
2.3. Fast Neutron Spectrum Small Modular Reactors
2.4. Molten Salt Small Modular Reactors
2.5. Hybrid SMRs (molten salt and fast reactors)

3. Selected information on the water cooled SMRs

3.1. Basic design features
3.2. Reactor physics design
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November 8, 2021

New Course Syllabus

UN0504:
Small Modular Reactors

3.3. Reactor thermalhydraulics design

3.4. Fuel design
3.5. Safety design
3.6. Regulatory aspects

4. Selected information on the high temperature gas cooled SMRs

4.1. Basic design features
4.2. Reactor physics design
4.3. Reactor thermalhydraulics design
4.4. Fuel design
4.5. Safety design
4.6. Regulatory aspects

5. Selected information on the molten salt SMRs

5.1. Basic design features
5.2. Reactor physics design
5.3. Reactor thermalhydraulics design
5.4. Fuel design
5.5. Safety design
5.6. Regulatory aspects

D. Exercises

6 assignments (homework)

E. Laboratory work

N/A

F. Methods of assessment

1 quiz for 1 h, 1 midterm exam for 2 h, and 1 final exam for 3 h (all closed textbook tests)

Quiz and midterm exam will be performed during one lecture in the middle of a term; and final
exam – during the last lecture

G. Required reading

1. Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors, 2016. Editor: I.L. Pioro, Elsevier –

Woodhead Publishing (WP), Duxford, UK, 940 pages. Free download of content:
https://www.gen-4.org/gif/jcms/c_9373/publications. (in 2022 will be replaced with Edition
2).
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November 8, 2021

New Course Syllabus

UN0504:
Small Modular Reactors

2. Advances in Small Modular Reactor Technology Developments. A Supplement to: IAEA

Advanced Reactors Information System (ARIS), 2020. IAEA, 354 pages. Free download
from: https://aris.iaea.org/Publications/SMR_Book_2020.pdf
3. Encyclopedia of Nuclear Energy, 1st edition, Editor-in-Chief: E. Greenspan, Elsevier, UK,
3656 pages. (Selected chapters).
4. Handbook of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, 2021. Editors: Ingersoll, D.T., and Carelli,
M.D., 2nd edition, Elsevier – Woodhead Publishing (WP), Duxford, UK, 609 pages. (Selected
chapters).
5. CANDU Textbook as basic material for the fundamentals of current reactors.
6. Pioro, I., Duffey, R.B., Kirillov, P.L., and Pioro, R., 2021. Pros and Cons of Commercial
Reactor Designs, Section 2: Chapter. Part 1. Current Status of Electricity Generation in the
World and Selected Countries, pp.  263-287, in Encyclopedia of Nuclear Energy, 1st edition,
Editor-in-Chief: E. Greenspan, Elsevier, UK, 3656 pages.
7. Pioro, I., Duffey, R.B., Kirillov, P.L., and Pioro, R., 2021. Pros and Cons of Commercial
Reactor Designs, Section 2: Chapter. Part 2. Current Status and Future Trends in the World
Nuclear-Power Industry and Technical Considerations of Nuclear-Power Reactors, pp.
288-303, in Encyclopedia of Nuclear Energy, 1st edition, Editor-in-Chief: E. Greenspan,
Elsevier, UK, 3656 pages.
8. Duffey, R.B., Pioro, I., and Pioro, R., 2021. World Energy Production and the Contribution
of PHWRs, Chapter 1. Introduction, in the book: Vol. 7. Pressurized Heavy-Water-cooled
Reactors, 1st edition, Editor J. Riznic, Elsevier, UK, 400 pages.
9. Pioro, I. & Mokry, S., 2011. Thermophysical Properties at Critical and Supercritical
Conditions, Chapter in book “Heat Transfer. Theoretical Analysis, Experimental
Investigations and Industrial Systems”, Editor: A. Belmiloudi, INTECH, Rijeka, Croatia, pp.
573-592. Free download from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/heat-transfer-theoretical-
analysis-experimental-investigations-and-industrial-systems/thermophysical-properties-at-
critical-and-supercritical-pressures.
10. Pioro, I. & Mokry, S., 2011. Heat Transfer to Fluids at Supercritical Pressures, Chapter in
book “Heat Transfer. Theoretical Analysis, Experimental Investigations and Industrial
Systems”, Editor: A. Belmiloudi, INTECH, Rijeka, Croatia, pp. 481-504. Free download
from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/heat-transfer-theoretical-analysis-experimental-
investigations-and-industrial-systems/heat-transfer-to-supercritical-fluids.
11. Pioro, I., Dort-Goltz, N., and McKellar, J., 2020. Current Status of Nuclear Power in the
World Including Latest Developments on SMRs, Proceedings of the 29th International
Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe (NENE-2020), Portorož, Slovenia, September
7-10, Paper 409, 10 pages. Free download from:
http://www.rcp.ijs.si/bojan/NENE2020USB/pdf/NENE2020_0409.pdf.
12. Pioro, I.L., 2019. Current Status of Research on Heat Transfer in Forced Convection of
Fluids at Supercritical Pressures, Nuclear Engineering and Design, Vol. 354, 14 pages.
13. Pioro, I., Duffey, R.B., Kirillov, P.L., et al., 2019. Current Status and Future Developments in
Nuclear-Power Industry of the World, ASME Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation
Science, Vol. 5, No. 1, 27 pages. Free download from:
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November 8, 2021

New Course Syllabus

UN0504:
Small Modular Reactors

https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/nuclearengineering/article/doi/
10.1115/1.4042194/725884/Current-Status-and-Future-Developments-in-Nuclear.
14. Pioro, I., Dort-Goltz, N., and McKellar, J., 2020. Current Status of Nuclear Power in the
World Including Latest Developments on SMRs, Proceedings of the 29th International
Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe (NENE-2020), Portorož, Slovenia, September
7-10, Paper 409, 10 pages. Free download from:
http://www.rcp.ijs.si/bojan/NENE2020USB/pdf/NENE2020_0409.pdf.