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Catalog Description

• 104B . Behavior of nuclear materials at high temperature; thermal hydraulics and two-phase flow; diagnosis of plasmas and generation of 14 MeV neutrons

Course Prerequisites

• Nuclear Engineering 120, Mechanical Engineering 106 and 109; Nuclear Engineering 180 recommended.

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills

• The course uses the following knowledge and skills:
• mechanical properties of metals; themochemistry of gas-solid reactions
• convective heat transfer; fluid flow
• nuclear reactions; interaction of radiation and matter

Textbook(s) and/or other required material

• None

Course objectives and outcomes

Course Objectives: to teach students:

• about the basic instrumentation used in nuclear engineering experiments
• how electronic signals are processed by computers and graphical displays
• proper methods for safe handling of high voltage, radiation-producing machines, high temperatures, and chemical hazards
• how to communicate ideas and results in both written and oral forms

  Course Outcomes: Students must be able to...

• generate a plasma and measure its density and temperature
• measure high-energy neutrons
• Use a vacuum furnace and vacuum microbalance
• Prepare metallographic specimens using a diamond saw, polishing, and etching
• understand two-phase flow phenomena
• Measure flow rates

Topics covered (Lectures):

• Electrical and radiation safety
• Technical reports and presentation skills

Topics covered (Experiments):

• Microwave generation of plasma
• detecton of 14 MeV neutrons
• Two-Phase flow phenomena
• Reactor thermal hydraulics
• Hydrogen embrittlement of Zircaloy
• High-temperature oxidation and reduction of uranium

Class/laboratory schedule

• one hour of lecture or student presentations and three hours of laboratory per week.

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component

• This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics and provides design experience.
• The students are exposed to the experimental methods common in nuclear engineering research. The topics are chosen to specifically educate the student in the techniques used in fusion, thermal hydraulics, and nuclear materials, and more generally focuses on presentation of the work through both written and oral reports.

Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives

• This course primarily serves students in the department. The information below describes how the course contributes to the undergraduate program objectives.
• as an elective course providing background in a number of subject areas of interest to those interested in a career in nuclear engineering research. The laboratory provides critical hands-on training using state-of-the-art instrumentation and computer support. The course also emphasizes oral and written technical communication skills.

Assessment of student progress toward course objectives

• Written laboratory reports: 75%
• Oral laboratory presentations: 25%