CHE566H1F

Elements of Nuclear Engineering

Julian Lebenhaft

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Topics

• Nuclear Engineering
• Learning outcomes
• Course syllabus
• Reference
• Course logistics, tutorials, and grading
• Assistance

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 Nuclear
Engineering

Reactor
Physics Materials
Feedback &
effects
Thermo-
Thermal Mechanics
Hydraulics

Reactor Instrumentation & Control

Civil Engineering (Reactor Building, etc.)

Radiation / Radiation Damage / Radiation Protection

Reactor Safety

Plant Operations & Maintenance

Nuclear Fuel Cycle / Nuclear Chemical Engineering 3/9

 Learning Objectives

1. Gain a solid overview of nuclear engineering with a focus on key

areas that comprise this interdisciplinary field:

Reactor physics — neutron behaviour in a nuclear reactor

Thermal hydraulics — heat transfer & pressure drop in a reactor

cooling system

Radiation — radioactivity, ionizing radiation, dosimetry,

health effects of radiation, and shielding

2. Understand how these separate areas of nuclear engineering are

integrated in the analysis of a nuclear reactor system.

3. Become familiar with nuclear reactor technology.

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 Course Syllabus

# Topic Lectures1
1 Nuclear physics basics 1
2 Reactor systems 1
3 Reactor physics2 4
4 Thermal hydraulics 5
5 Radiation, radioactivity, 7
radiation chemistry, and
radiation protection
Total: 18

1The duration of each lecture is approximately 1½-2 hours.

2Theterm ‘physics’ is used for historical reasons, but this
subject is firmly established as an engineering discipline.
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 Reference

• A good general reference is the following textbook:

J.R. Lamarsh and A.J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear engineering, 3rd

Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2001.

– Available at the Eng. & Comp. Sci. library.

– A low-cost international version is available via Amazon, and a

digital version (PDF) can be found on the web.

• The lecture notes together with examples constitute a self-

contained reference.

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 Course Logistics

• Lectures & tutorials will be held in the following room:

− Monday 3-5 PM LM 155

− Thursday 3-5 PM MP 137

• Tutorials will be held at the end of each course module

and will focus on the logic of problem solving.

• Sample problems with detailed solutions will be provided

to show how the theory is applied.

• Lecture presentations will be posted on Blackboard 1~2 h

before each session to facilitate note-taking.

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 Grading

Problem sets (4) 20%

Quizzes (3)† 30%
Final Examination 50%
†Short (30 min) tests covering one topic.

• Submit assignments electronically via Q by the due date.

− Penalties for later submissions because solutions will be posted

promptly (exceptions are possible):
50% deducted if one day late, 75% two days, 100% after.
− Plagiarism is an academic offence. Please ask for assistance if
you cannot solve the problems.

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 Assistance

• Primary contact is the teaching assistant (TA):

− Khalil Sidawi khalil.sidawi@mail.utoronto.ca

− Marking of assignments and one-on-one assistance.

• Contact the instructor for clarification of lecture material

or if additional help is needed.

− After class or by email (julian.lebenhaft@utoronto.ca).

• Hints will be provided to assist in the solution of the

problem sets.

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