1. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics 3-2-0 Academic year 2015-2016 1

2. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Nuclear installations in Belgium 2 (Source: SPF Economie, AMPERE Commission report) (Source: World Nuclear Association website, 13/09/2015)

3. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Detailed installed power in MWe 3 Final shutdown in 2015 (nuclear phaseout law, governmental decision of Summer 2012) Lifetime extension until 2025 (nuclear phaseout law, governmental decision of Summer 2012) (Source: World Nuclear Association website, http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-A-F/Belgium/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-A-F/Belgium/, 13/09/2015) Temporary shutdown from June (D3)/September (T2) 2012 until May 2013, then from March 25, 2014 on: microcracks in the reactor vessel detected during their decennial revision, see http://www.fanc.fgov.be/fr/page/dossier-pressure-vessel-doel-3-tihange- 2/1488.aspx http://www.fanc.fgov.be/fr/page/dossier-pressure-vessel-doel-3-tihange- 2/1488.aspx Total capacity larger than originally (installed power increased when steam generators (see description of a PWR) were replaced Beginning of August 2014

4. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Nuclear installations in the world (1/2) 4 (Source: World Nuclear Association website, 13/09/2015)

5. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Nuclear installations in the world (2/2) 5 (Source: World Nuclear Association website, 13/09/2015)

6. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Some facts… Between 50 and 55% of electricity generation in Belgium due to the electronuclear channel Law concerning nuclear phase-out still applicable in Belgium… but lifetime extension voted or under discussion Construction of MYRRHA at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK-CEN) in Mol (expected for 2023-25)  Research reactor with a fast spectrum: accelerator-driven system, both subcritical and critical configurations possible, cooled down by a liquid Pb-Bi eutectic, prototype of a generation-IV reactor 6 (Source: SCK-CEN Mol)

7. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Some facts… (cont’d) Even in the assumption of… +Dismantling of the Belgian power plants +Management of radioactive waste  huge needs in the world nuclear industry of highly- qualified staff Despite the Fukushima event, many plants are under construction or planned, both in neighbouring and emerging countries (new plants (Finland), EPRs in France, projects of new constructions (UK)…) Few countries took a decision against nuclear energy after Fukushima (Germany, Switzerland, Italy) Other applications of nuclear energy beside electricity generation 7

8. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 And probably … Lifetime extension of (some of) the current Belgian nuclear power plants (lack of technologically effective or mature alternatives) Environmental constraints and climate changes Necessary short- and mid-term reflection on the Belgian and European energy policy Ambitious research programs for the development of new concepts of reactors: inherently safer, producing less waste and operationally more flexible (Generation IV) 8

9. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 9 Source: Nuclear Energy Institute, http://www.nei.org (13/09/2015)http://www.nei.org

10. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Objectives of the program in nuclear engineering Technical expertise –Nuclear engineering  modeling of power plants  For their exploitation (including control/safety)  For research  Contacts with the nuclear industry and research institutions like e.g. SCK-CEN in Mol –Ionizing radiations  dosimetry and radiation protection Open-mindedness to the energy generation issue in a broad sense 10

11. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 The educational program in Nuclear Engineering at ULB MA – bloc 1 Visit of a power plant (Tihange), Simulator (Doel), Labs on BR1 and visits at SCK-CEN 11 David Freson Bel VElectrabel

12. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 MA – bloc 2, option nuclear energy, science and techniques (from next year on) 12

13. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 MA – bloc 2 Opportunities of a 3-month, 10-ECTS internship (possibly abroad) Master thesis (in the faculty or in the nuclear sector) Study year at the INSTN (Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique)  program called “Génie Atomique” :  One term of courses (CEA Saclay or Cadarache)  A second term for the internship (possibly in the USA) 13

14. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Objectives of this course Knowing that the energy produced in a nuclear reactor comes from fissions of heavy nuclei induced by incident neutrons:  Set up the balance of the neutron population in a reactor, given all possible interactions between the neutrons and their environment  Study solution methods for this balance equation  Establish under which conditions the fission chain reaction reaction is self-sustained  … … and more generally:  Study the modeling of particle transport phenomena  Interpret physically the associated mathematical formalism 14

15. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics – Academic year 2015-2016 Course organisation: 60% theory, 40% exercises  Lecture notes of R.Beauwens in French (but slight differences) + Powerpoint files on http://mntek3.ulb.ac.be/pub/PHYS-H-406/ http://mntek3.ulb.ac.be/pub/PHYS-H-406/  Reference book: Nuclear reactor analysis, J.J. Duderstadt, L.J. Hamilton (all figures, unless otherwise stated, come from these two references)  Presentation of a PWR design and operation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1MK2WJSgdg (French), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSFgmLW1Crw (English) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1MK2WJSgdg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSFgmLW1Crw  Calendar of lectures and exercises: see excel file on web page  Exercises: compulsory!  No project this year  Absences during the tutorials: mark obtained for the exercises during the exam weighted by the percentage of presence during the tutorials  Mark made of 60% for the theory and 40% for the exercises of the exam Written exam (th+ex) for the 1 st session, oral exam for the 2 nd  Course still being modified  comments welcome 15