FYS9585 – Advanced Reactor Physics
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course builds upon course:FYS4580, delving deeper into the physics underlying the design and operation of a nuclear reactor. Furthermore, it connects energy production in the reactor core with thermodynamics and thermal-hydraulics.
In this way, the course will provide an understanding of reactor design based on the underlying physics, with a focus on efficient energy production and safe operation. In light of this understanding, we will review and discuss new and promising reactor design concepts, including Gen.IV reactors and SMRs.
Aspects related to nuclear fuel, such as different fuel types, waste management, reprocessing (recycling), storage, and criticality safety are also discussed in the course. This provides additional insight into the advantages and disadvantages of different reactor designs.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you will be able to:
- assess and derive physical parameters for a reactor core, and discuss/model the operation of the nuclear reactor.
- explain thermal-hydraulic effects that may arise in a reactor design and calculate their impact.
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of modern and innovative reactor designs.
- Explain various fuel cycles, including aspects of waste management and opportunities for recycling.
- Describe various safety considerations that must be taken when handling and storing spent nuclear fuel.
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student?within a given deadline.
Recommended previous knowledge
- FYS3580 or FYS4580 – Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics
- FYS4505 – Methods and Instrumentation for Nuclear and Particle Physics
- FYS4535 – Medical Applications of Nuclear Physics
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with FYS5585 – Advanced Reactor Physics.
Teaching
- Lectures: 2 hours per week (40 hours in total)
- Group sessions: 1 hour per week (20 hours in total)
A project assignment where students study a chosen reactor design. The project assignment must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Examination
- Final oral exam which counts 100 % towards the final?grade.
This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final?exam.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course: FYS5585 – Advanced Reactor Physics
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a?postponed exam?at the beginning of the next semester.
New examinations?are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.
We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.