1. PHYS-H406 – Nuclear Reactor Physics
3-2-0
Academic year

2. Nuclear installations in Belgium
(Source: World Nuclear Association website, 18/09/2016)
(Source: SPF Economie, AMPERE Commission report)

3. Detailed installed power in MWe
March 2016
(Source: World Nuclear Association website,
18/09/2016)
Final shutdown expected in 2015 (nuclear phaseout law, governmental decision of Summer 2012) then postponed to go to a lifetime extension
Lifetime extension until 2025 (nuclear phaseout law, governmental decision of Summer 2012)
Temporary shutdown from June (D3)/September (T2) 2012 until May 2013, then from March 25, 2014 until December 2015: microcracks in the reactor vessel detected during their decennial revision, see
Total capacity larger than originally (installed power increased when steam generators (see description of a PWR) were replaced

4. Nuclear installations in the world (1/2)
(Source: World Nuclear Association
website, 18/09/2016)

5. Nuclear installations in the world (2/2)
(Source: World Nuclear Association website, 18/09/2016)

6. Some facts…
Between 50 and 55% of electricity generation in Belgium due to the electronuclear channel
Law concerning nuclear phase-out still applicable in Belgium… but lifetime extension voted or under discussion
Construction of MYRRHA at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK-CEN) in Mol
(expected for ?)
 Research reactor with a fast spectrum: accelerator-driven system, both subcritical and critical configurations possible, cooled down by a liquid Pb-Bi eutectic, prototype of a generation-IV reactor
(Source: SCK-CEN Mol)

7. Some facts… (cont’d) Even in the assumption of…
+ Dismantling of the Belgian power plants
+ Management of radioactive waste
huge needs in the world nuclear industry of highly-qualified staff
Despite the Fukushima event, plants are under construction or planned, both in neighbouring and emerging countries (new plants (Finland), EPRs in France, projects of new constructions (UK)…)
Few countries took a decision against nuclear energy after Fukushima (Germany, Switzerland, Italy)
Other applications of nuclear energy beside electricity generation

9. And probably …
Lifetime extension of (some of) the current Belgian nuclear power plants (lack of technologically effective or mature alternatives)
Environmental constraints and climate changes
Necessary short- and mid-term reflection on the Belgian and European energy policy
Ambitious research programs for the development of new concepts of reactors: inherently safer, producing less waste and operationally more flexible (Generation IV)

10. Source: Nuclear Energy Institute, http://www.nei.org (13/09/2015)

11. Objectives of the program in nuclear engineering
Technical expertise
Nuclear engineering
 modeling of power plants
For their exploitation (including control/safety)
For research
Contacts with the nuclear industry and research institutions like e.g. SCK-CEN in Mol
Ionizing radiations
 dosimetry and radiation protection
Open-mindedness to the energy generation issue in a broad sense

12. The educational program in Nuclear Engineering at ULB
Visit of a power plant (Tihange), Simulator (Doel), Labs on BR1 and visits at SCK-CEN
Electrabel
Bel V

13. MA – bloc 2, option nuclear energy, science and techniques
(from next year on)

14. MA – bloc 2
Opportunities of a 3-month, 10-ECTS internship (possibly abroad)
Master thesis (in the faculty or in the nuclear sector)
Study year at the INSTN (Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique)  program called “Génie Atomique” :
One term of courses (CEA Saclay or Cadarache)
A second term for the internship (possibly in the USA)

15. Objectives of this course
Knowing that the energy produced in a nuclear reactor comes from fissions of heavy nuclei induced by incident neutrons:
Set up the balance of the neutron population in a reactor, given all possible interactions between the neutrons and their environment
Study solution methods for this balance equation
Establish under which conditions the fission chain reaction reaction is self-sustained …
… and more generally:
Study the modeling of particle transport phenomena
Interpret physically the associated mathematical formalism

16. Course organisation: 60% theory, 40% exercises
Lecture notes of R.Beauwens in French (but slight differences) + Powerpoint files on
Reference book: Nuclear reactor analysis, J.J. Duderstadt, L.J. Hamilton
(all figures, unless otherwise stated, come from these two references)
Presentation of a PWR design and operation: (French), (English)
Calendar of lectures and exercises: see excel file on web page
Exercises: compulsory!
No project this year
Absences during the tutorials: mark obtained for the exercises during the exam weighted by the percentage of presence during the tutorials
Mark made of 60% for the theory and 40% for the exercises of the exam
Written exam (th+ex) for the 1st session, oral exam for the 2nd
Course still being modified  comments welcome