22.05 | Fall 2009 | Undergraduate

Neutron Science and Reactor Physics

Pages

This course has 8 problem sets. Question files are included in the table below along with due dates.

PROBLEM SET # QUESTIONS DUE DATES
Problem Set 1 (PDF) Ses #4
Problem Set 2 (PDF) Ses #6
Problem Set 3 (PDF) Ses #8
Problem Set 4 (PDF) Ses #11
Problem Set 5 (PDF) Ses #13
Problem Set 6 (PDF) Ses #18
Problem Set 7 (PDF) Ses #20
Problem Set 8 (PDF) Ses #23

This course has 3 exams, 1 final exam review and 1 final exam. Question files are included in the table below.

EXAMS FILES
Exam 1 (Fall 2008) (PDF)
Exam 2 (Fall 2008) (PDF)
Exam 3 (Fall 2008) (PDF)
Final exam review (Fall 2008) (PDF)
Final exam (Fall 2008) (PDF)

[EEL] = Lewis, Elmer E. Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactor Physics. Burlington, MA: Academic Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780123706317.

Selected lecture notes are provided below.

LECTURE TOPICS LECTURE SLIDES/NOTES/REFERENCES
1 Reactor Fundamentals / Nomenclature / Nuclear Reactions / Nuclear Stability

Chapter 1 [EEL]

(PDF)

2 Neutron Sources / Binding Energy / Fission Process / Chart of Nuclides Chapter 1 [EEL] (cont.)
3 Radioactive Decay / Cross-Sections

Chapters 2 and 3 [EEL]

(PDF) (cont.)

4 Compound Nucleus / Resonances / Neutron Scattering Chapters 2 and 3 [EEL] (cont.)
5 Neutron Slowing Down / Neutron Flux / Moderators / Energy Condensation Chapter 2 and 3 [EEL] (cont.)
6 Power Reactors I (LWRs / Neutron Life Cycle)

Chapter 4 [EEL]

(PDF)

7 Power Reactors II (CANDU / Advanced LWRs, Gas Reactors, …) Chapter 4 [EEL] (cont.)
10 Transport Equation Notes (PDF)
11 Criticality / Flux / Current / BCs Notes (PDF)
12 Kinetics Approximation

Notes (PDF)

Chapter 5 [EEL]

(PDF)

13 Delayed Neutrons / Photoneutrons / Inhour Chapter 5 [EEL] (cont.)
14 Prompt Jump Approximation Chapter 5 [EEL] (cont.)
16 Diffusion Equation – One Group Chapter 6 [EEL]
17 Non-Multiplying Systems / Multiplying Systems Chapter 6 [EEL] (cont.)
18 Diffusion – Two Groups Notes (PDF - 1.9MB)
19 Bare reactors / Reflectors Chapter 7 [EEL]
20 Control Rods / Burnable Poisons Chapter 7 [EEL] (cont.)
22 Energy Transport

Chapter 8 [EEL]

(PDF)

23 Reactivity Feedback / Transients

Chapter 9 [EEL]

(PDF)

24 Reactor Control / Xenon / Samarium Chapter 10 [EEL]
25 Depletion / MA Chapter 10 [EEL] (cont.)

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Course Description

This course introduces fundamental properties of the neutron. It covers reactions induced by neutrons, nuclear fission, slowing down of neutrons in infinite media, diffusion theory, the few-group approximation, point kinetics, and fission-product poisoning. It emphasizes the nuclear physics bases of reactor design and its relationship to reactor engineering problems.

Course Structure

Textbook

Lewis, Elmer E. Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactor Physics. Burlington, MA: Academic Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780123706317.

Additional Resources

Duderstadt, James J., and Louis J. Hamilton. Nuclear Reactor Analysis. 1st ed. New York, NY: Wiley, 1976. ISBN: 9780471223634.

Lamarsh, John R., and Anthony J. Baratta. Introduction to Nuclear Engineering. 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN: 9780201824988.

Assignments

Eight problem sets will be assigned and graded during the semester. The seven highest marks will be averaged and will count towards 20% of the final grade. Homework should ideally be made individually. You may work and get help from classmates, but please do not copy of each other. Also, feel free to use prior year’s material for additional help (e.g. MIT OpenCourseWare).

Grading

ACTIVITIES PERCENTAGE
Homework 20%
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Exam 3 20%
Final exam 20%

MIT Statement on Plagiarism

Plagiarism—use of another’s intellectual work without acknowledgement—is a serious offense. It is the policy of the Literature Faculty that students who plagiarize will receive an F in the subject, and that the instructor will forward the case to the Committee on Discipline. Full acknowledgement for all information obtained from sources outside the classroom must be clearly stated in all written work submitted. All ideas, arguments, and direct phrasings taken from someone else’s work must be identified and properly footnoted. Quotations from other sources must be clearly marked as distinct from the student’s own work. For further guidance on the proper forms of attribution, consult the style guides available at the Writing and Communication Center and the MIT Web site on Plagiarism.

Calendar

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
1 Reactor Fundamentals / Nomenclature / Nuclear Reactions / Nuclear Stability  
2 Neutron Sources / Binding Energy / Fission Process / Chart of Nuclides  
3 Radioactive Decay / Cross-Sections  
4 Compound Nucleus / Resonances / Neutron Scattering Problem set 1 due
5 Neutron Slowing Down / Neutron Flux / Moderators / Energy Condensation  
6 Power Reactors I (LWRs / Neutron Life Cycle) Problem set 2 due
7 Power Reactors II (CANDU / Advanced LWRs, Gas Reactors, …)  
8 Exam Review and Homework 3 Rreview Problem set 3 due
9 Exam 1 (Chapters 1-4)  
10 Transport Equation  
11 Criticality / Flux / Current / BCs Problem set 4 due
12 Kinetics Approximation  
13 Delayed Neutrons / Photoneutrons / Inhour Problem set 5 due
14 Prompt Jump Approximation  
15 Exam 2 (Chapter 5 and Transport Equation Notes)  
16 Diffusion Equation - One Group  
17 Non-Multiplying Systems / Multiplying Systems  
18 Diffusion – Two Groups Problem set 6 due
19 Bare Reactors / Reflectors  
20 Control Rods / Burnable Poisons Problem set 7 due
21 Exam 3 (Chapters 6-7)  
22 Energy Transport  
23 Reactivity Feedback / Transients Problem set 8 due
24 Reactor Control / Xenon / Samarium  
25 Depletion / MA  
26 Final Exam (Chapters 1-10)  

Course Info

Instructor
As Taught In
Fall 2009
Learning Resource Types
Problem Sets
Exams
Lecture Notes