Course syllabus adopted 2025-10-13 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameKärnreaktorfysik och modellering: härdmodellering för härddesign
- CodeTRA520
- Credits3 Credits
- OwnerTRACKS
- Education cycleSecond-cycle
- DepartmentTRACKS
- GradingUG - Pass, Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language English
- Application code 97247
- Open for exchange studentsNo
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0125 Project 3 c Grading: UG | 3 c |
In programmes
Examiner
- Christophe Demaziere
- Full Professor, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics, Physics
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Aim
This course aims to equip the course participants with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to perform reactor physics calculations of nuclear reactor systems.Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
General learning outcomes- work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions
- show insights about and deal with the impact of architecture and/or engineering solutions in a global, economic, environment and societal context
- identify ethical aspects and discuss and judge their consequences in relation to the specific problem
- orally and in writing explain and discuss information, problems, methods, design/development processes and solutions
- explain the principles, approximations, and limitations of Monte Carlo and deterministic methods.
- implement Monte Carlo and deterministic methods using modern simulation environments.
- compute and analyze key parameters relevant to Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs).
- apply simulation results to evaluate and improve reactor core design and operation
Content
The course focuses on the study of the transport of neutrons in nuclear reactors at the core level. This allows to perform full core simulations. Those simulations are required for core design and for guaranteeing the safe operation of such systems. This course aims at enabling the course participants to master the methods used for neutron transport modelling at the core level in steady-state conditions using Monte Carlo and deterministic methods, as well as giving the participants the instruments to perform numerical simulations of neutron transport with state-of-the-art models and codes. Also, the course participants will learn key quantities to be evaluated from those simulations for the operation of Pressurized Water Reactors and Boiling Water Reactors.Organisation
The course is a hybrid flipped course. In this format, the course participants need to complete some online self-paced preparatory work (representing about 40 hours of work) before attending interactive classes organized during 5 consecutive days (representing about 40 hours of work). Those classes are given in a hybrid set-up, with participants following the classes either onsite or remotely on the web. The interactive sessions are largely based on group work/activities promoting intercultural and interdisciplinary collaborations between peers. In addition, the groups need to work on some projects offered throughout the course. By applying the learned concepts on practical examples and via the support from the teaching staff, the students will develop an in-depth understanding of core modelling for core design.Literature
With input from the teaching team, students will develop the ability to identify and acquire relevant literature throughout their projects.Examination including compulsory elements
The examination is based on continuous assignments throughout all course modules. The assignments are related to the in-class activities, as well as to the preparatory work ahead of those activities. One should successfully solve a sufficient number of those assignments to pass the course.The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.