Program Overview

Program Overview

The university program in question appears to be related to nuclear engineering, specifically focusing on the physics of reactors, technology of nuclear reactors, and radioprotection.

General Information

• Hourly volumes:
  • CM: 52.0
  • Project: -
  • TD: 8.0
  • Internship: -
  • TP: -
  • DS: 4
• ECTS credits: 5.0

Objective(s)

The objectives of the program include:

• Reminders in nuclear physics and neutron-matter interaction for use by neutronics
• Introduction to neutronics
• Neutrodynamics
  • Establishment of the transport equation
  • Diffusion approximation
  • Criticality of a multiplicative environment
  • 1 group theory in diffusion
  • Theory of slowing down and thermalization of neutrons
  • Multigroup treatment and heterogeneous cases in diffusion
• Point kinetics
  • Characterization of the determining parameters for transients
  • First qualitative approach to the different regimes
  • Control by delayed neutrons
  • Evolution equations in PK0 and general resolution
  • Notions of elementary nodal kinetics via a diffusion approach
• Introduction to the dynamics of nuclear reactors
  • Reactivity assessment and Bateman equations under neutron flux
  • Fuel depletion and production of transuranium elements
  • Poisoning by fission products and “Xenon rebound”
  • Use of consumable poisons and borication kinetics
  • Concepts on thermal counter-reactions and control
  • Concepts on fuel regeneration and associated cycles

Nuclear Reactor Technology

• General information on nuclear reactors
  • Generations of reactors
  • French REP park
  • Detailed description of the components
  • Safety aspects
• Operation of REPs
  • Identification of buildings and equipment
  • CPR
  • VVP
  • Electrical distribution
• Management of REPs
  • Operating areas (APR, API, AN/RRA, AN/GV, RP)
  • Control Cluster Groups, Cluster Mechanism and Overlap Schedule
  • Piloting in priority turbine mode
  • RCV-REA
  • Subcritical approach
  • Divergence
  • Power supplies (RP, islanding, DUS, etc.)
  • Presentation of backup systems (RIS, ASG, EAS)
  • RPN and RIC
  • Risks incurred and protections
• Piloting REPs in accident situations
  • RRC and DEP – design principles of backup circuits
  • Accidents dimensioning
  • RIS (ISHP/IS Passive, ISMP and ISBP)
  • ASG (MPS and TPS)
  • EAS and ETY
  • Accidents: risks, solutions and driving strategy (APRP, RTV, RTGV, RTE)

Manager(s)

Nicolas CAPELLAN

Content(s)

• Reactor physics: N. Capellan
  • Basics in nuclear physics
  • Bases in neutron matter interaction
  • Neutronics
  • Reactor kinetics
  • Reactor dynamics
• Nuclear reactor technology: Mr. Plais
  • Technical details of a REP
  • Operation
  • Multi-disciplinary aspects
• Radiation protection: S. Chabod

Prerequisites

• Nuclear physics I
• Basic course in mathematics, Laplace transforms, resolution of coupled second order differential equations.

Knowledge Check

• Session 1: Final exam (ET1) - a 3-hour written test (documents prohibited, calculators allowed)
• Session 2: Terminal exam - session 2 (ET2) mark replaces session 1 (ET1) mark

Calendar

The course is scheduled in these sectors:

• Engineering course - IEN Engineer - Semester 8 cf. timetable 2025/2026

Additional Information

• Education code: 4EUS42NU
• Teaching language(s):

Bibliography

• Barjon, Physics of Nuclear Reactors
• Ligou, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering
• Bra, Neutron Physics
• Reuss, Summary of Neutronics
• Lamarsh, Introduction to nuclear engineering
• Stacey, Nuclear reactor physics
• Krane, Introductory nuclear physics
• Foster and Wright, Basic nuclear engineering
• Henry, Nuclear reactor analysis

Updated - 09/08/2025