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NE 501 Reactor Analysis and Design

3 Credit Hours

Elements of nuclear reactor theory for reactor core design and operation. Includes one-group neutron transport and multigroup diffusion models, analytical and numerical criticality search, and flux distribution and calculations for homogeneous and heterogeneous reactors, slowing down models, introduction to perturbation theory. Credit for both NE 401 and NE 501 is not allowed.

Prerequisite

Radiation and Reactor Fundamentals (NC State NE 520) OR  Applied Differential Equations II (NC State MA 401) OR  Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN (NC State CSC 112) OR

instructor pre-approval.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

  1. formulate basic physical and mathematical models of neutron transport in nuclear reactors;
  2. identify area of applicability of these models and their approximations;
  3. apply them for reactor design and analysis.

Course Requirements

  • Homeworks: 25%
  • Class exams: 25%
  • Computational projects: 25%
  • Final exam: 25%

Textbook

J.J. Duderstadt and L.J. Hamilton, Nuclear Reactor Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, 1976.
ISBN10: 0471223638
ISBN13: 978-0471223634

Updated 10/08/2020