NE 412 is a "capstone" design course requiring students to integrate the knowledge obtained in their undergraduate courses into a comprehensive design experience. Even though NE 405 and 411 are listed as the primary prerequisites, the course is best taken after completing the remaining undergraduate Nuclear Engineering requirements.

Textbook:

None

References:

Undergraduate texts from other NE courses

M. M. El-Wakil, Powerplant Technology, McGraw-Hill, 1984

M. M. El-Wakil, Nuclear Heat Transport, ANS Monographs, 1981

M. M. El-Wakil, Nuclear Energy Conversion, ANS Monographs, 1982

G. A. Moses, Nuclear Reactor Physics Course Notes, eTEACH: NE405

NE 412 is markedly different from other undergraduate courses in that the instructor acts more as a coach than a teacher. Sketching some broad design parameters of system project, the instructor shepherds the students through a comprehensive design experience. Students must take charge of their own learning, using the instructor as a consultant and resource to point them in the right direction when they "get stuck." It is the instructor's objective to create an environment in which students can both meet design requirements and gain confidence in their abilities to solve large, complex, open-ended projects.

Actual nuclear system designs can involve:

Core Physics: criticality, control rod calculations, excess reactivity computations, enrichment requirements, fuel burn-up and fission product formation

Radiation and shielding: radioisotope decay, interaction of radiation with matter and shielding (thickness, material, cooling)

Thermal Hydraulics: convective and/or boiling heat transfer at fuel element surface, conductive heat trasnfer inside elements, pressure drops, heat exchanger calculations, thermodynamic cycle efficiency, steam turbine reheat and regeneration, preheating and inlet subcooling

Materials: selection of fuel and cladding, corrosion, pressure vessel materials

Pressure Vessel: stress calculations, materials selection/thicknesses, ASME codes

Safety: temperature and void coefficients, emergency cooling, hazards considerations

Students meet once or twice per week with faculty supervisor to give a progress report, obtain advice and discuss design issues.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

Since NE 412 is a comprehensive design project focusing on nuclear energy systems (reactors, accelerators, radioisotope devices), it implicitly contains elements of health and safety (reactor core designs are not acceptable, for instance, unless the fuel is shown to meet peaking constraints at all times during operation; reactor plant designs are not acceptable, for instance, unless they are demonstrated to provide adequate cooling during normal and accident conditions)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

NE 412 is specifically focused on satisfying most of the NE program's educational objectives; i.e., equipping students to "exhibit strong skills in problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication, applied to nuclear engineering", as well as a continuing commitment to their education and informed career choices.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

- Ability to design nuclear energy systems and consider the complete range of technical areas to be considered (neutronics, materials, thermal-hydraulics etc);

- Ability to work in a range of nuclear energy fields;

- Ability to function on deisgn teams;

- Knowledge of ethical and professional standards;

- Ability to communicate effectively, via written or oral expression;