Understanding time-dependent behaviors of nuclear reactors and the methods of their control is essential to the operation and safety of nuclear power plants. This book provides graduate students, researchers, and engineers in nuclear engineering comprehensive information on both the fundamental theory of nuclear reactor kinetics and control and the state-of-the-art practice in actual plants, as well as the idea of how to bridge the two. The first part focuses on understanding fundamental nuclear kinetics. It introduces delayed neutrons, fission chain reactions, point kinetics theory, reactivity feedbacks, and related measurement techniques. The second part helps readers to grasp the theories and practice of nuclear power plant control. It introduces control theory, nuclear reactor stability, and the operation and control of existing nuclear power plants such as a typical pressurized water reactor, a typical boiling water reactor, the prototype fast breeder reactor Monju, and the high-temperature gas-cooled test reactor (HTTR). Wherever possible, the design and operation data for these plants are provided.

Nuclear Reactor Kinetics and Control highlights the application of classical control methods in the frequency space to the dynamic processes of a nuclear reactor. This book contains nine chapters and begins with an introduction to some important mathematical theories related to nuclear engineering, such as the Laplace and Fourier transforms, linear system stability, and the probability theory. The succeeding chapters deal with the frequency space of classical linear design. A chapter describes a stochastic model for the "lumped reactor and presents equations that measure the departure from the mean, as well as representative experiments or applications of the theory to neutron detection. The discussion then shifts to the aspects of reliability and its consequences for safety of nuclear reactors and some techniques for nonlinear studies centered on the use of the state space and its equations in the time domain. The final chapter introduces the modern electric analogue computer and derives the patching or programming rules that can be use to find solutions to problems of interest using the analogous behavior of electric circuits. This chapter also provide examples of intrinsic interest in nuclear engineering showing the programming involved and typical results, including the slower transients of xenon poisoning and fuel burn-up. This book is intended for nuclear engineers, physicists, applied mathematicians, and nuclear engineering undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Dynamics and Control of Nuclear Reactors presents the latest knowledge and research in reactor dynamics, control and instrumentation; important factors in ensuring the safe and economic operation of nuclear power plants. This book provides current and future engineers with a single resource containing all relevant information, including detailed treatments on the modeling, simulation, operational features and dynamic characteristics of pressurized light-water reactors, boiling light-water reactors, pressurized heavy-water reactors and molten-salt reactors. It also provides pertinent, but less detailed information on small modular reactors, sodium fast reactors, and gas-cooled reactors. - Provides case studies and examples to demonstrate learning through problem solving, including an analysis of accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi - Includes MATLAB codes to enable the reader to apply the knowledge gained to their own projects and research - Features examples and problems that illustrate the principles of dynamic analysis as well as the mathematical tools necessary to understand and apply the analysis Publishers Note: Table 3.1 has been revised and will be included in future printings of the book with the following data: Group Decay Constant, li (sec-1) Delayed Neutron Fraction (bi) 1 0.0124 0.000221 2 0.0305 0.001467 3 0.111 0.001313 4 0.301 0.002647 5 1.14 0.000771 6 3.01 0.000281 Total delayed neutron fraction: 0.0067

An introductory text for broad areas of nuclear reactor physics Nuclear Reactor Physics and Engineering offers information on analysis, design, control, and operation of nuclear reactors. The author—a noted expert on the topic—explores the fundamentals and presents the mathematical formulations that are grounded in differential equations and linear algebra. The book puts the focus on the use of neutron diffusion theory for the development of techniques for lattice physics and global reactor system analysis. The author also includes recent developments in numerical algorithms, including the Krylov subspace method, and the MATLAB software, including the Simulink toolbox, for efficient studies of steady-state and transient reactor configurations. In addition, nuclear fuel cycle and associated economics analysis are presented, together with the application of modern control theory to reactor operation. This important book: Provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts of nuclear reactor physics and engineering Contains information on nuclear reactor kinetics and reactor design analysis Presents illustrative examples to enhance understanding Offers self-contained derivation of fluid conservation equations Written for undergraduate and graduate students in nuclear engineering and practicing engineers, Nuclear Reactor Physics and Engineering covers the fundamental concepts and tools of nuclear reactor physics and analysis.

Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactor Physics offers a one-semester treatment of the essentials of how the fission nuclear reactor works, the various approaches to the design of reactors, and their safe and efficient operation . It provides a clear, general overview of atomic physics from the standpoint of reactor functionality and design, including the sequence of fission reactions and their energy release. It provides in-depth discussion of neutron reactions, including neutron kinetics and the neutron energy spectrum, as well as neutron spatial distribution. It includes ample worked-out examples and over 100 end-of-chapter problems. Engineering students will find this applications-oriented approach, with many worked-out examples, more accessible and more meaningful as they aspire to become future nuclear engineers. - A clear, general overview of atomic physics from the standpoint of reactor functionality and design, including the sequence of fission reactions and their energy release - In-depth discussion of neutron reactions, including neutron kinetics and the neutron energy spectrum, as well as neutron spatial distribution - Ample worked-out examples and over 100 end-of-chapter problems - Full Solutions Manual

Physics of Nuclear Reactors presents a comprehensive analysis of nuclear reactor physics. Editors P. Mohanakrishnan, Om Pal Singh, and Kannan Umasankari and a team of expert contributors combine their knowledge to guide the reader through a toolkit of methods for solving transport equations, understanding the physics of reactor design principles, and developing reactor safety strategies. The inclusion of experimental and operational reactor physics makes this a unique reference for those working and researching nuclear power and the fuel cycle in existing power generation sites and experimental facilities. The book also includes radiation physics, shielding techniques and an analysis of shield design, neutron monitoring and core operations. Those involved in the development and operation of nuclear reactors and the fuel cycle will gain a thorough understanding of all elements of nuclear reactor physics, thus enabling them to apply the analysis and solution methods provided to their own work and research. This book looks to future reactors in development and analyzes their status and challenges before providing possible worked-through solutions. Cover image: Kaiga Atomic Power Station Units 1 - 4, Karnataka, India. In 2018, Unit 1 of the Kaiga Station surpassed the world record of continuous operation, at 962 days. Image courtesy of DAE, India. Includes methods for solving neutron transport problems, nuclear cross-section data and solutions of transport theory Dedicates a chapter to reactor safety that covers mitigation, probabilistic safety assessment and uncertainty analysis Covers experimental and operational physics with details on noise analysis and failed fuel detection

This text presents the theory and methods of prediction that are the heart of nuclear reactor safety. Time-dependent reactor behavior is explained in both mathematical and physical terms. This book also explains the logic behind the working formulas and calculational methods for reactor transients and illustrates typical dynamic responses. The classical concept of point kinetics is developed in three steps, with discussion of various solutions to kinetics problems. Each chapter includes homework problems and review questions.