Advanced reactor multi-physics

The course aims at providing specialised knowledge on nuclear reactor technology beyond the traditionally taught one, focused on Light-Water Reactors (LWRs) or thermal reactors at large. 
In recent times, there has been a renewal in reactor design proposals around the idea of Small-Modular Reactors (SMRs). Many of these are advanced versions of LWRs and others are based on technologically different choices such as with Fast Reactors.
The physical principles on which LWR-based SMRs and their systems work are not different from what is addressed in other courses, although their practical implementation in the design can differ. Because of this, in the spirit to widen the knowledge on reactor technology, the course mostly focuses on the physics of Fast-spectrum reactors, and their modelling.
In this context, Multi-physics can be intended both in the sense of studying the different physics that affect the performance of advanced reactors or as a modelling approach. The course will offer a balanced view on the physical aspects involved in the selected reactors and the fundamentals for their translation to models for reactor analysis.

The course can be schematically divided as follows:

1. Introductive considerations (Gen IV Reactors, SMRs, Their Objectives; Fast Reactors: introductory physics).
2. Fast Reactor Technology (selected concepts: sodium-cooled fast reactors, lead-cooled fast reactors, molten-salt reactors).
3. Feedback effects in Fast Reactors: their origin and their modelling.
4. Point-Reactor modelling (Conservation equations in “macroscopic” form; single-phase thermal-Hydraulics for liquid metals and molten salts; point-kinetics and DNP transport; coupling approaches; transient effects, Reactor transfer functions and stability).
5. Special topics (Pulsed and burst Reactors, Accelerator-driven systems, super-prompt power excursion scenarios).
6. Beyond Point-Reactor modelling: multi-dimensional Multiphysics (Governing equations in differential form: Transport equations [mass, momentum, energy, neutrons, species]; considerations concerning the inclusion of: turbulence effects, thermo-mechanics modelling; solution methods and coupling approaches).