Nuclear Energy Program
Report to the Faculty
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Tuesday, 19 August 20
P. K. Andersen
What is the nuclear fuel cycle?
What is the front end
of the fuel cycle?
Front End of Fuel Cycle
1. Mining and milling
2. Conversion
3. Enrichment
4. Fuel Fabrication
What is the back end
of the fuel cycle?
Back End of Fuel Cycle
6. Interim Storage
6. Reprocessing and Recycling
7. Immobilization
8. Final Disposal
Why offer a
nuclear energy program in
Chemical and Materials Engineering?
Both the front end and back end
of the fuel cycle consist primarily of
chemical processes.
Suitable materials are essential at all
stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.
What are the requirements for the
Nuclear Energy minor?
Problem
The name “Nuclear Energy” does not
reflect focus of the program.
Recommendation
Rename the program as the “Nuclear
Chemical Engineering” (NuChE) minor.
Nuclear Chemical Engineering
“The branch of chemical engineering that deals with
the production and use of radioisotopes, nuclear
power generation, and the nuclear fuel cycle.”
McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Engineering
The Nuclear Chemical Engineer (I)
“As a nuclear engineer, he or she should be familiar with the
nuclear reactions that take place in nuclear fission reactors and
radioisotope production; with the properties of nuclear species
important in nuclear fuels; with the properties of neutrons,
gamma rays, and beta rays produced in nuclear reactors; and with
the reaction, absorption, and attenuation of these radiations in the
materials of reactors.”
McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Engineering
The Nuclear Chemical Engineer (II)
“As a chemical engineer, he or she should know the properties of
materials important in nuclear reactors and the processes used to
extract and purify these materials and convert them into the
chemical compounds and physical forms used in nuclear
systems.”
McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Engineering
Problem: Just 6 of the 12 approved electives
are offered regularly.
CH E 474
E E 431
PHYS 315
PHYS 315L
PHYS 454
PHYS 455
Power Plant Design
Intro. to Power Engineering
Modern Physics
Experimental Modern Physics
Intermediate Modern Physics I
Intermediate Modern Physics II
Recommendation
Update the list of approved electives.
Recommendation
Increase the number of approved NuChE
electives offered by CHME by
(1) reviving existing courses; and
(2) developing new courses.
Existing Courses to Consider
CH E 439 Environmental Modeling
CH E 473 Nuclear Regulations
CH E 475 Nuclear Reactor Design
Existing Courses to Consider
CH E 439 Environmental Modeling
CH E 473 Nuclear Regulations
CH E 475 Nuclear Reactor Design
CH E 439. Environmental Modeling 3 cr.
Environmental transport processes in water, groundwater
and the atmosphere; mathematical models to account for
simultaneous chemical reaction and transport in the
environment; models of chemical fate; aquatic chemistry;
metals migration in soils; atmospheric deposition and
global change; metals deposition. Prerequisite(s): MATH
392 or CH E 201.
CH E 473. Nuclear Regulations and Compliance
Practices 3 cr.
Introduction, through the use of case studies, to the best
technical compliance practices for regulations governing
the siting, licensing, constructing, operating and
decommissioning of nuclear fuel cycle facilities. Consent
of instructor required. Prerequisite(s): MATH 191G and
(CHEM 111G or CHEM 115). Crosslisted with: WERC
473
CH E 475. Nuclear Reactor Theory 3 cr.
An overview of the properties of nuclei, nuclear structure,
radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, resonance
reactions, moderation of neutrons, will be followed by
mathematical treatment of the neutronics behavior of
fission reactors, primarily from a theoretical, one-speed
perspective. Criticality, fission product poisoning,
reactivity control, reactor stability and introductory
concepts in fuel management, slowing down and onespeed diffusion theory. Corequisites: MATH 392.
Prerequisites: CHEM 112G, PHYS 215G, MATH 291G.
New Courses to Consider
CH E 4xx Chemical & Nuclear Separations
CH E 4xx Corrosion & Degradation of Materials
CH E 4xx Risk-based Decision Making
CH E 4xx. Chemical and Nuclear Separations 3 cr.
Principles of chemical and nuclear separation processes in the
nuclear fuel cycle, including leaching, filtration, precipitation,
solvent extraction, ion exchange, distillation, electromagnetic
isotope separation, gaseous diffusion, gas centrifugation, laser
isotope enrichment.
Prerequisites: CH E 302, CH E 476, or consent of instructor.
CH E 4xx. Corrosion and Degradation of Materials 3 cr.
Failure of engineering materials in aggressive environments.
Chemical and electrochemical mechanisms of corrosion.
Types of corrosion and chemical attack, including active
corrosion, galvanic corrosion, pitting and other forms of
localized corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and corrosion
fatigue. Methods of corrosion mitigation including cathodic
protection, coatings, passivation, and corrosion inhibitors.
Influence of chemical composition and microstructure on
corrosion behavior. Corrosion in nuclear reactors and nuclear
waste repositories.
Prerequisites: CH E 361, CH E 470.
CH E 4xx. Risk-based Decision Making 3 cr.
Quantitative methods for risk-assessment and risk-based decision
making. Probabilistic safety assessment, human health risks,
environmental and ecological risk analysis. Prerequisites: CHEM
112, CH E 311, and MATH 192 or equivalent.