Nuclear Engineering Introduction 1 NE 543 Selected Topics in Nuclear Criticality Safety: Course Introduction and Overview Spring, 2016

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 2 NE 543 Catalog Description Title: NE 543: Selected Topics in Nuclear Criticality Safety Description: Criticality safety computational and experimental methods for enrichment, fabrication, storage, reprocessing, and transport applications; overview of safety practices and regulatory requirements. Prerequisite: NE 421 or consent of instructor. –Credit: 3 semester hours (either graduate or UG) –Text: No textbook, only Knief’s book, which is used in NE 421, and handout material, which is provided via the web –References: Provided in handout material –Instructors: Robinson, Bowen, Taylor, Haught, Pevey

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 3 Course Objectives Increase knowledge and understanding of important concepts in NCS Provide a good theoretical and analytical foundation to complement on-the-job training and experience that is required of most NCS practitioners. Rely heavily on the experience of the instructors, who have a combined total of over 120 years of relevant experience

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 4 Instructors NE 543 is team taught by: –Chris Robinson –Doug Bowen –Richard Taylor –Chris Haught –Ron Pevey Each teach 3 weeks—except for Pevey, who teaches 2 weeks (total 14 weeks).

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 5 Robinson Topics Review of criticality accidents Review of standards and regulations Review of criticality safety anomalies Probabilistic risk assessment and human factors Evolution and inter-relationships of domestic and international standards

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 6 Bowen Topics Neutron cross sections Transport codes and applications Subcritical limits Operating limits and controls

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 7 Taylor Topics Uranium Materials Single Homogeneous Unit Criticality Data Conversions Using Hand Calculation Methods Enrichment, Reflection, Moderation, and Heterogeneous Systems Potpourri Selected Topics from TID-7016 Project Sapphire Project Auburn Endeavor

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 8 Haught Topics Criticality Safety Evaluations Enriched Uranium Processing Planning for Accidents Computer Code Validation

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 9 Pevey Topics Nuclear Criticality Safety Practice Advanced topics

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 10 Course web presence The course outline, syllabus, and shared material will appear on: Blackboard will be used for and grade posting

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 11 Course Grades Each of the five instructors will proctor a ~ 35-minute exam on the content of the previous 3-week period (i.e., five 35-minute exams for a total of ~ 3 hours of exams). All exams will be closed book, closed notes, and represent one individual’s effort (i.e., no collaboration on exams). The final course grade for each student will be based on the average of the exams.

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 12 Class Schedule LectureDateLesson 11/19/16Robinson 1 21/26/16Robinson 2 32/2/16Robinson 3 42/9/16 Robinson test Taylor 1 52/16/16Taylor 2 62/23/16Taylor 3 73/1/16 Taylor test Bowen 1 83/8/16Bowen 2 3/15/16(No class - Spring Break) 93/22/16Bowen 3 103/29/16 Bowen test Haught 1 114/5/16Haught 2 124/12/16Haught 3 134/19/16 Haught test Pevey 1 144/26/16Pevey 2 5/3/16Final exam

Nuclear Engineering Introduction 13 Four Important References Nuclear Criticality Safety-Theory and Practice by R. A. Knief, Copyright 1985, 1986 by The American Nuclear Society –Textbook for Course NE 421: Introduction to Nuclear Criticality Safety "Critical Dimension of Systems Containing 235 U, 239 Pu, and 233 U,” LA MS, REFSET, Unclassified, Volumes I-III, Los Alamos National Laboratory “A Review of Criticality Accidents,” by T.P. McLaughlin, et al., LA-13638, Los Alamos National Laboratory (2000) “Nuclear Safety Guide TID-7016,” by J.T. Thomas, Ed., U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission report NUREG/CR-0095 (ORNL/NUREG/CSD-6) (June 1978)