Nuclear Reactor Physics & Engineering Unzipped

Of all subjects the physics, engineering and technology of nuclear reactors is perhaps one of the most esoteric yet it plays a highly important role in most of our lives; and soon, without doubt, will become even more so. Because it is generally unknown means that it is often feared but it shouldn’t be. Books that broach this subject often do so from either a most basic approach, leaving the enquiring mind wanting for more, or more often are designed specifically for students of nuclear engineering to a very advanced level and are therefore far too advanced for the level of interest of the non-nuclear student or first/second year nuclear undergraduate and often assume that the reader is already in possession of high level mathematics. This book sets out, at fast pace, to ease the reader into this subject at an elementary, further elementary and intermediate level but also addresses any theory from basic first principles that is often missing in other literature. Herein we explain this subject without missing out the necessary concomitant underlying concepts without which the student will remain forever wondering how. This book is also designed to suit, and is navigable at, all aspirational levels of study from basic technology to advanced physics. Within we shall discuss: nuclear & atomic physics and technology, nuclear fission, fusion, radiation, shielding and instrumentation, analysis of reactor core design geometries, critical mass calculations and fuel pitch optimization, fuel poisoning, reactor stability, reactor types and characteristics, nuclear accidents and safety, fuel manufacture, chemistry and enrichment, metallurgy of reactor materials, fuel loading and burn-up calculations. Further to this, substantial other material has been added given the need for wider engineering perspectives of power plant design, thermodynamics, thermal-hydraulics, engineering control theory and in introducing useful topics, including theory and techniques in linear analysis (e.g. Laplace transforms, Bessel functions, spherical harmonics), for bridging into advanced reactor theory. Edition 2 includes extensive additional material on further advanced reactor theory. Edition 3 expands much further into engineering control theory and introduces spatial instability analysis. This book is a highly illustrated, concise and comprehensive, practical and theoretical introduction to this high utility subject and also serves beyond its apparent cognitive application. It is designed to provide more than that of a textbook at the elementary/further elementary/intermediate level. If you are a student of physics, mechanical, chemical, electrical or environmental engineering, mathematics or chemistry, are a naval officer or just academically or curiously minded who seeks a better understanding of this mysterious subject or if you are a first/second year nuclear engineering student then this book will get you straight in and help you succeed in understanding the fascinating world of nuclear energy. Note that this hardback version of this book is in premium colour (the paperback is in standard colour). About the author The author is a retired chartered engineer who graduated in nuclear engineering in 1981 from Queen Mary College, University of London (QMUL) where he also undertook research in plutonium breeding. He has since worked for nearly forty years on numerous engineering design projects in nuclear and conventional power plant, nuclear fuel processing, scientific instrumentation and in the oil & gas and chemical industries as well as managing an engineering department for a major international engineering company. He is also the author of other works and currently mentors undergraduates in chemical engineering.