Nuclear Design 2019

This project is conceived to improve your knowledge

in fundamentals of nuclear reactor design,

as taught in the four chapters studied in class:

1) classification attempt

2) water-moderated reactors

3) graphite-moderated reactors

4) reactors with reduced moderation,

by working on a recent and accessible paper

presented at the international conference ICAPP 2019

Study of D2O/H2O-cooled thorium-fueled PWR-like SMR cores

Nuclear Design, How To ?

Teacher : Alexis Nuttin


  • 3 subjects = 3 parts (defined below) of the selected article (link to pdf above)

  • Understanding and synthesis work in group

    • During our brainstorming sessions and outside

    • Questions about precise issues to ask by e-mail

  • Send documents by e-mail before October 16

    • Slides in pdf, w/o animation (2 max. per person)

    • Abstract of about 500 words (2 pages max.)

  • Pedagogic & synthetic presentation ("best way to learn is to teach")

    • 10-minute presentation per group (1/4h max.)

    • 10-minute Q&A session (from the other groups)


Unique session (October 21)

part a (I. to II.) : Introduction, basic core design and burnup calculations

Ronit, Tawei, Abdel, Mamun, Hugo

part b (III.) : Extra methods for thermal details at Hot Full Power (HFP)

Sara, Mathias, Tommaso, Antonio, David

part c (IV. to V.) : Simple Rod Ejection Accidents (REA) from HZP, conclusions and perspectives

Ekaterina, Jonathan, Jorge, Jakub, Benjamin