After successful completion of the course, students are able to:

• to explain the basics of nuclear fission
• to summarize main characteristics of nuclear power plants
• to compare different types and its safety aspects of nuclear power plants
• to obtain information on the present state of radioactiv waste management
• to repeat and analyse historic reactor accidents
• to demonstrate possible future developments in nuclear technologies

The course gives a survey on the current design of nuclear power plants, such as PWR, BWR,VVER, CANDU, AGR, HTR, LMFBR, GEN 3+ and Gen 4 NPPs, Small Modular NPPs. Further the safety aspects and major nuclear accidents in the past (such as Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Fukushima) and the situation in Europe after Fukushima are discussed. For each reactor type specific safety and operational aspects are discussed. Radioactive waste management and disposal options in Europe are discussed.

The lecture will be held in presence. There are existing recordings of the lecture in TUWEL. 

• Homepage
• the lecture is held in English

Written in form of a homework and a short examination at the end of the term a short written exam

Topic of the homework: Description of a Gen IV Reactor System, approx. 1,5 - 2 pages

Exam at the end of the term with TUWEL

Reactor physics, Nuclear physics