Nuclear Fuel Cycle

CHEN60221 Nuclear Fuel Cycle 15 Semester 1 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Clint Sharrad Unit coordinator Kathryn George Unit coordinator Department of Chemical Engineering 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 <div>The unit will provide an introductory overview of all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle including the mining of uranium ore, the fabrication of nuclear fuel, the nuclear fission process, treatment, transport and disposal of nuclear waste, decommissioning techniques and reprocessing methods. Emphasis on these topics will be placed on the nuclear industry within the UK, but processes used throughout the world in the nuclear sector will also be considered. Students will gain an understanding of the radiological hazards associated with working in the nuclear industry and how the associated risks can be successfully managed. Historical perspectives of nuclear energy production will be explored in conjunction with public perceptions of the nuclear industry</div> <div>The unit will provide an introductory overview of all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle including the mining of uranium ore, the fabrication of nuclear fuel, the nuclear fission process, treatment, transport and disposal of nuclear waste, decommissioning techniques and reprocessing methods. Emphasis on these topics will be placed on the nuclear industry within the UK, but processes used throughout the world in the nuclear sector will also be considered. Students will gain an understanding of the radiological hazards associated with working in the nuclear industry and how the associated risks can be successfully managed. Historical perspectives of nuclear energy production will be explored in conjunction with public perceptions of the nuclear industry</div> <div>The unit aims to:<ul> <li>Provide an overview of both open and closed nuclear fuel cycles.</li> <li>Provide an understanding of the different forms of radiation encountered and their associated risks.</li> <li>Develop an appreciation of the complexities involved in working in the nuclear industry and an understanding of how the risks in handling radioactive material can be managed.</li></ul></div>  <span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;font-size:11.0pt;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Aptos;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Aptos;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-themecolor:text1;">(1) Explain the various processes that constitute nuclear fuel cycles including nuclear fission, and assess the efficiency of nuclear reactor designs. (2). Explain and justify the use of techniques for the safe handling of radioactive materials. (3) Generate risk assessments and safe systems of work for the management of radioactive materials and decommissioning of nuclear sites. (4) Formulate and evaluate decommissioning strategies for nuclear sites. (5) Explain and critique reprocessing methodologies for closing the nuclear fuel cycle. (6) Understand factors that influence public perception of nuclear energy, including but not limited to proliferation resistance (7) Describe the different forms of radiation, assess the associated risks and calculate radiation doses (8) Select the appropriate classification of nuclear waste by calculating radioactivity levels, and appraise the processes used for transporting, treating and disposing nuclear waste (9) Describe and explain the challenges that arise across the fusion fuel cycle, and discuss how they may be solved<o:p></o:p>  Asynchronous material will be provided in advance of lectures. Lectures will consistent of a mix of developing key concepts from the asynchronous material, delivering new concepts, and working through example problems.<o:p></o:p>Workshops will provide an opportunity to practice solving problems with support from GTAs and lecturers. During the first half of the semester, the workshops will focus on material related to the online test. During the second half of the semester, the workshops will focus on coursework feedback and problems that relate to the written exam.<o:p></o:p>Teaching ActivitiesLectures - 22 HoursWorkshop - 8 HoursAssessment (Exam) - 3 HoursIndependent Study - 117 Hours 0 Other 100% <figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse:collapse;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-irow:0;"><td style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">Assessment task<o:p></o:p> </td><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">Length<o:p></o:p> </td><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.3pt;" width="200">Weighting within unit (if relevant)<o:p></o:p> </td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1;"><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">Exam <o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">2 hours<o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.3pt;" width="200">50%<o:p></o:p> </td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2;"><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">Group coursework<o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200"> </td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.3pt;" width="200">30%<o:p></o:p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;"><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">Online test<o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.25pt;" width="200">40 minutes<o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:150.3pt;" width="200">20%<o:p></o:p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <figure class="table" style="float:left;"><table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse:collapse;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-irow:0;"><td style="border:1.0pt solid windowtext;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Assessment task<o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">How and when feedback is provided<o:p></o:p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1;"><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Group Coursework<o:p></o:p> </td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Feedback sessions throughout the coursework preparation process<o:p></o:p>Feedback on report once marking is complete<o:p></o:p> </td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2;"><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Online test<o:p></o:p> </td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Feedback on test once marking is complete<o:p></o:p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;"><td style="border-bottom-style:solid;border-color:windowtext;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-top-style:none;border-width:1.0pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Written exam<o:p></o:p></td><td style="border-bottom:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-left-style:none;border-right:1.0pt solid windowtext;border-top-style:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:225.4pt;" width="301">Feedback on exam once marking is complete<o:p></o:p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> N Cinelli, Giorgia; Tollefsen, Tore; Bossew, Peter; Gruber, Valeria; Bogucarskis, Konstantins; De Felice, Luca; De Cort, Marc. (2019). Digital version of the European Atlas of natural radiation. Journal of environmental radioactivity. DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.02.008">10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.02.008</a><o:p></o:p>Wilson, P. D. (1996). The nuclear fuel cycle: from ore to wastes. Oxford University Press. ISBN: <a href="https://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/discovery/search?query=isbn,contains,9780198565406&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&sortby=rank&vid=44MAN_INST:MU_NUI&lang=en&mode=advanced&offset=0">9780198565406</a><o:p></o:p>Crossland, Ian. (2012). Nuclear fuel cycle science and engineering. Woodhead Publishing. ISBN: <a href="https://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/discovery/search?query=isbn,contains,9780857096388&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&sortby=rank&vid=44MAN_INST:MU_NUI&lang=en&mode=advanced&offset=0">9780857096388</a><o:p></o:p>Piro, Markus H. A. (2020). Advances in nuclear fuel chemistry. Woodhead Publishing. ISBN: <a href="https://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/discovery/search?query=isbn,contains,9780081025710&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&sortby=rank&vid=44MAN_INST:MU_NUI&lang=en&mode=advanced&offset=0">9780081025710</a><o:p></o:p>Cinelli, Giorgia; De Cort, Marc; Tollefsen, Tore. (2019). European atlas of natural radiation. Publications Office. ISBN: <a href="https://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/discovery/search?query=isbn,contains,9276082581&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&sortby=rank&vid=44MAN_INST:MU_NUI&lang=en&mode=advanced&offset=0">9276082581</a><o:p></o:p> Lectures 22 0 128