JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to make understand the concepts of Nuclear

Science and Special Properties required for materials to meet nuclear reactor requirements.

Course outcomes: By the end of the course student will get good knowledge on

• 1. Fundamentals of nuclear chemistry and Physics
• 2. Functional requirements of various reactor components and suitable materials
• 3. Extraction of nuclear grade materials applicable in nuclear reactors
• 4. Application of principles of physical metallurgy in understanding the changes takes place in materials after irradiation

UNIT - I

Elementary Nuclear Physics and Chemistry; Structure of nucleus, radioactivity, binding energy; nuclear interaction; fission and fusion; nuclear reaction; energy release and chain reactions; neutron absorption cross-section; multiplication and criticality concepts and factors.

UNIT - II

Reactor components; Types of reactors; PWR, BWR, Graphite Moderator Reactor, Heavy water Reactor, Graphite moderator Reactor, Light Water moderator Reactor, Liquid metal coolant reactor. Mechanisms of moderation, radiation detection, radiation effects on fissile and non-fissile materials; radiation damage and radiation growth; thermal cycling; protection against radiations.

UNIT - III

Materials for nuclear reactors; Considerations in selection and properties of common materials used as fuels, their physical and chemical properties; canning materials; coolants; control rods; reflectors and shielding materials. Production of reactor materials.

UNIT - IV

Indian resources: Occurrence and general characteristics of nuclear minerals. Flow sheets of processing of nuclear minerals for the production of nuclear grade uranium, thorium, beryllium and zirconium with emphasis on basic scientific principles involved.

UNIT - V

Production and enriched uranium and fabrication of fuel elements. Irradiated fuel processing for recovery of Plutonium. Nuclear power production in India and its economics and safety measures.

TEXT BOOKS:

• 1. Wright JC -Metallurgy in Nuclear Power Technology; Iliffe Book Ltd., 1962
• 2. Glasstone S and Snesonske A; Principles of Nuclear Reactor Engineering; Macmillan, London

REFERENCE BOOKS:

• 1. Wilkinson WD and Mrphy WF Nuclear Reactor Metallurgy Van Nostrand 1958
• 2. Symposium on Rare matierals; Indian Institute of Metals.
• 3. Gurinsky DH and Dienes JL Nulcears Fuels, Macmillan.
• 4. Proceedings of the symposium on Nuclear Science and Engineering – Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay. R18 B.TECH MME III YEAR