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NE 522 601 Principles of Nuclear Reactor Engineering

NE 522 601 Principles of Nuclear Reactor Engineering

March 26, 2025

3 Credit Hours

Graduate-level course designed as an intensive course introducing engineering principles of nuclear reactors to graduate students with a non-nuclear engineering background or returning students.

Prerequisite

Graduate standing.

Course Objectives

The objectives are to introduce graduate students with non-nuclear engineering background or returning students to the principles of nuclear reactor and power engineering. After successfully completing the course, students will be able to effectively follow the regular nuclear engineering graduate level curriculum.

Course Outline

By the end of this course, the student should be able to understand and apply the concepts and principles of:

  • Nuclear reactions and interactions relevant to nuclear engineering including fission, cross-sections, reaction rate calculations, energy depositions rates, and radioactive decay.
  • Nuclear reactor design including static and dynamic reactor theory applied to reactor design problems and thermal-hydraulic considerations in reactor design.

Course Requirements

  • Homework: Five assignments each valued at 6%. Homework assignments to be submitted via Moodle.
  • Quizzes: Two quizzes each valued at 10%.
  • Exams: Two exams each valued at 25%.
  • Grading Scale: A+ (>100); A (92÷100); A- (90÷91); B+ (88÷89); B (82÷87); B- (80÷81); C+ (78÷79) C (72÷77); C- (70÷71); D+ (68÷69); D (62÷67); D- (60÷61); F (<60).
  • Late Assignments: Unless stated otherwise, assignments are due at the beginning of class on the designated due date. Assignments turned in within 24 hours of this time are considered LATE and will be assessed 25% penalty. Assignments turned in after 24 hours will be marked and returned to the student, but no credit will be assigned. To allow for unforeseen circumstances, students are granted a onetime exemption if an assignment is turned in by 5:00 PM on the designated due date. Exceptions to this policy may be granted for documented medical or family emergencies.

Textbooks

Required Textbook:

  • Lamarsh and Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall, 2001.

Additional (optional) References:

  • J. K. Shults and R. E. Faw, Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Taylor & Francis Group, 2007.
  • J. J. Duderstadt and L. J. Hamilton, Nuclear Reactor Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, 1976.

Updated: 7/25/2025