Course syllabus for Nuclear power safety

Course syllabus adopted 2024-04-25 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameKärnkraftssäkerhet
  • CodeTRA435
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTRACKS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • DepartmentTRACKS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 97174
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0124 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c3.7 c3.8 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

In addition to the general requirements to study at the first-cycle level at Chalmers, necessary subject or project specific prerequisite competences (if any) must be fulfilled. Alternatively, the student must obtain the necessary competences during the course. The examiner will formulate and check these prerequisite competences. The student will only be admitted in agreement with the examiner.

One needs to be enrolled in an "engineering" program at Chalmers at either the MSc or PhD level. The course is also offered to professionals active in Sweden, Chalmers Alumni and Chalmers employees having an "engineering" background.

Aim

The course provides a platform to work and solve challenging cross-disciplinary authentic problems from different stakeholders in society such as the academy, industry or public institutions. Additionally, the aim is that students from different educational programs practice working efficiently in multidisciplinary development teams

Nuclear power plants have been a major asset since the mid-70s for decarbonizing electricity generation and for decreasing the reliance on fossil fuel. However, during the operation of these plants, a large inventory of radioactive materials accumulates, which poses a potential severe hazard to society and the environment. Therefore, it is important to design and operate nuclear power plants with stringent safety requirements, so that radioactive releases to the environment are avoided or, in case of a severe accident, minimized. In the course, you will understand the principles of nuclear safety, the assessment of the risk associated with nuclear energy, and the implementation of safety in nuclear reactors.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Master problems with open solutions spaces which includes to be able to handle uncertainties and limited information.
  • Work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions.
  • 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 working principles of nuclear power plants.
  • Explain the safety culture and regulations applied to nuclear power plants.
  • Explain the risk associated with nuclear power plants and its assessment.
  • Explain how safety is implemented in nuclear power plants.
  • Explain the methods used for safety analysis of nuclear power plants.
  • Explain the behavior of nuclear power plants under transient and accidental conditions.
  • Reflect on and discuss safety issues of nuclear power plants, taking ethical aspects into consideration.

Content

The course includes the following topics:
  • Introduction to nuclear power reactor safety. The main nuclear power reactor designs are described together with their working principles. The objective of nuclear safety, the concept of defense in depth, and regulations are discussed.
  • Risk assessment. The approach used to evaluate the risk associated with nuclear power plants is discussed, and the basics of probabilistic risk assessment are introduced.
  • Safety analysis. The discussion is focused on anticipated occurrences and accidents that are relevant to the design of nuclear reactors and to the demonstration of their safety. Simplified models are introduced to illustrate the physical response of nuclear reactors to possible failures. Examples of real accidents are examined.

Organisation

The course is run by a teaching team.
The main part of the course is a challenge driven project. The challenge may range from being broad societal to profound research driven. The project task is solved in a group. The course is supplemented by on-demand teaching and learning of the skills necessary for the project. The project team will have one university examiner, one or a pole of university supervisors and one or a pole of external co-supervisors if applicable.

Different learning activities are blended, such as lectures on basic concepts, discussions on case studies including both postulated and real exercises, and exercises, allowing the students to develop an in-depth understanding of nuclear power safety. The sessions are typically organized on Friday afternoons and are offered onsite.

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 assignments throughout all the course. The assignments are arranged as group activities and each of them requires the delivery of a single group report. To pass the course, all the assignments must be successfully completed.

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 on educational support due to disability.